/ 


THE 

SAINTS'   EVERLASTING  REST : 
A  TREATISE 

OF  THE 
BLESSED  STATE  OF  THE   SAINTS, 

IN   THIilR 

•E^UOYMENT  OF  GOD  IN  GLORV. 


FXTRACTED  FROM  THE  WORKS  OF 

Mr.    RICHARD    BAXTER, 
By  JOHN  WESLEY,  M.  A. 

i-ATE    FELIOW    OF   LINCOLN   COLLEGE,    OXFORD- 


^  P  II I  LA  D  E  L  PHI  A  : 

jr 

^  PRINTED   BY    SOLOMON   Vf ,    CONRAU,  NO.  22,  /•^' 
^  7ER-P:-ATTER  ALLEY,   FOR    EZEKIEL  CCo/^^ 

-  NO.  118,   NORTH    FOURTH-STREET,   w/^ 

4^  TliE    METHODIST  CilURClI 


180, 


ify^  TO    TKK  y        jf 


Zll^ 


INIiABITANTS 


OF 


^C^^^^.^^^" 


lilDDERMINSTER. 


My  Dear  Friends, 


FF  EITHER  I  or  my  lahourr,  have  anv 
thing  of  public  life  or  worth,  it  is  wholly  (though 
not  only)  yours.  I  am  convinced  by  Provi- 
dence, tfiat  it  is  the  vv^ill  of  God  it  fliould  be  fo. 
This  I  clearly  difcerned  in  my  firtlcomir.g  to  yoi:, 
in  my  former  abodtt  wiih  you,  and  in  the  tim 
of  my  forced  abfence  from  you..  When  I  was  fc- 
parated  by  the  miferics  of  the  late  un^7:;^;y*war, 
I  daril  not  iix  in  any  other  congregation,  but 
lived  in  A  military  unpleafmg  fuite,  left  I  flicukl 
foreflall  rny  return  to  you.  i  h'c  offers  of  greater 
worldly  accorrcdations  were  notem.ptaiion  torr.e 
once  to  quellion  whether  I  flio'ald  leave  you  : 
your  free  invi^:etion  of  my. return,  your  obedi- 
ence to  my  dcL~aine,  the  ilrong  affev^lion  which 
I  have  yttcowju-ds  you  aoove  all  people^ and  the 
general  hearty  Tt  turn  of  love  which  I  find  from 
you,  do  all  pel^uade  me,  that  I  vvas  fcnt  into  the 
v/orld  efpeciallv  for  the  fervice  of  your  fouls: 
and  that  eveii.:T/r.en  I  am  dead,  I  might  be  yet 
a  help  to   your  falvatiou,  the  Lord  hath  forced 


■r* 


(    iv    ) 

Kie,  quite  befide  my  own  refolution,  to  write  this 
ti'jT5.tife,  and  leave  it  in  your  hands.  It  was  far 
i ;  ■,;  rA  my  thouplus  ever  to  have  become  thus  pub- 
lic, ancn)urdei)fcd  the  worJd  with  any  writing  of 
mine  :  therefore  have  loft.^n  refilled  thercqucft 
of  my  reverend  bretliren,  and  fome  fuperiors, 
who  might  elfe  have  commandi;d  inucli  more  at 
n;y  hand?.  Pat  fee  how  God  ovei-ruleth  and 
trolTeth  our  rcfokiliono ! 

Being  in  my  quarters  far  from  home,  cad  in- 
to extreme  languilhiiig  (by  the  fudden  lofs  of  a- 
bout  a  gallon  Qf  blood,  after  many  years  fore- 
going we^inefs)  and  having  no  acquaintance 
about  me,  nor  any  book  but  my  bible,  and  liv- 
ing in  continual  expectation  of  death,  I  bent  my 
thoughts  on  my  everlafling  reft  :  andbecaufe  my 
inc;mory,  through  extreme  weakncfs,  was  impcr- 
fecc,  I  took  my  pen,  and  began  to  draw  up  my 
own  funeral  fermon,  or  fome  help  for  my  own 
.meditations  of  heaven,  to  fweeten  both  the  reft 
of  my  life,  and  my  death.  In  this  condition 
God  was  pleafed  to  continue  me  about  five 
•months  trom  home  :  where  being  able  for  nothing 
(Ife,  I  went  on  with  this  work,  which  lengthenccl 
to  this  which  you  here  fee.  It  is  no  v/onder 
therefore  if  I  be  too  abrupt  in  the  beginning,  fee- 
ing I  then  intended  but  the  length  of  a  fermon  or 
two.  Much  lefs  may  you  wonder  if  the  whole 
be  very  imperfect,  feeing  itwas  written  as  it  were 
v/ith  one  foot  in  the  grave,  by  a  man  that  was 
betwixt  the  living  and  dead,  that  wanted  flrength 
of  nature  to  quicken  invention  or  afieclion,  and 
had  no  book  but  his  bible,  while  the  chief  part 
was  fmiilied.     liut  Iiovv  fweet  is  this  Providence 


(     V     ) 

laoTV  to  my  review,  which  fo  happily  forced  me 
to  that  work  of  meditation,  v/hich  1  had  former- 
ly found  fo  profitable  to  my  foul  I  and  lliewed 
inc  more  mercy  in  depriving  me  of  other  helps, 
than  I  was  aware  of  1  and  hath  caufed  m}^ 
thoiifOits  to  feed  on  this  heavenly  fubjetjl,  which 
hath  more  benefited  me  than  all  the  ftudlcs  of 
my  life. 

And  norr,  dear  friends,  fach  as  it  is,  I  here 
oflfer  it  you  ;  and  upon  the  knees  of  my  foul,  I 
offer  up  my  thanks  to  the  merciful  God,  wlio 
hath  fetcliediip  both  me  and  it,  as  from  the  grave 
for  your  fervice  i  who  revcrfed  the  fcntencc  of 
prefcnt  death,  whicli  by  the  aJLkft  phjficians  v/as 
paffed  upon  me  I  who  interrupted  my  public  la- 
bours for  a  time,  that  he  might  trace  me  to  do 
you  a  more  lading  fervice,  which  elf^;  I  had  never 
been  like  to  have  attempted  !  That  God  dj  I 
heartily  blefs  and  magnify,  who  hath  refr.ued  me 
from  the  many  dangers  of  four  years  v/ar,  and  af- 
ter fo  many  tedious  nights  and  days,  andfo  many 
doleful  fights  and  tidings,  hath  returned  me,  and 
many  of  yourfclves,  and  reprieved  us  now  to  ferve 
him  in  peace  !  And  though  men  be  ungrateful, 
and  my  body  ruined  beyond  hope  of  recovery  : 
yet  he  hatli  made  up  all  in  the  comforts  I  have 
in  you.  To  the  God  of  mercy  I  do  here  offer 
upmy  mod  hcartythanlis,  who  hath  not  reject- 
ed my  prayers,  but  hath  by  a  woader  delivered 
nie  in  the  midft  of  my  duties  :  and  hath  fupported 
me  thefe  fourteen  years  in  a  languifliing  ftate, 
wherein  I  have  fcarce  had  a  waking  hour  free 
from  pain  ;  who  hath  above  tv/eniy  fevcral 
times  delivered  me  when  I  was  near  deatli.  And 

A  2 


(  "  ) 

though  he  hath  made  me  fpend  my  days  in  groans 
aiid  tears,  and  in  a  conftant  expeclalion  of  my 
change,  yet  ho  hath  not  ^vholly  difabled  me  for 
his  fcr\  ice  :  and  hereby  hath  more  elVec"iually 
fubdued  my  pride,  and  made  this  world  con- 
temptible to  me,  and  forced  my  dull  hcai-tlo 
more  importunate  requefts,  and  occafioned  more 
rare  difcoveries  of  his  mercy  than  ever  I  could 
have  expe6led  in  a  profperous  Rate. 


THE 

SAINTS'  EVERLASTING  REST 


PART     I. 

flE3UEV/S,    iv.    9. 


There  remaineth,  therefore^  a  Rdst  to  the  Pi'o'^/-:  cf 
Go  J). 


CHAP.     I. 

T/ih  Rest  dijinca. 

IT  was  not  only  our  intereft  in  God,  and  actual 
fruition  of  him,  v,  hich  Avas  led  in  Adam's  fall  ; 
but  all  i'piritual  knoAvkdge  of  him,  and  true  difpoli- 
tion  towards  fuch  a  felicity.  Man  hath  now  nn  heart, 
too  fuitabk  to  his  eftate  ;  a  low  date,  and  a  low  ipirit. 
As  the  poor  man  that  v.'onid  not  believe  that  any  one 
man  liad  fucli  a  fum  as  r.;i  iiundred  pounds,  it  was  fo 
far  above  Vvhat  he  pofTt  .Ted  ;  fo  man  will  hardly  now 
believe,  thut  xhere  i«  fuch  a  lupp^nefs  as  once  he  had^ 
much  lefs  as  Chrin.  hath  now  procured. 

7>.e  apoftla  Ledov.s  moft  of  tiiis  epifll,.'  in  proving 
to  the  Jcvs.  thiit  the  -^nd  of  all  cefei--:on:.js  and  fha-v 
dov  1,  is  to  dire^ii  them  to  Jefus  GhiiP.,  the  fufcftance  ; 
and    tiiat  th-r  nit  of  fahbuths,  and   Canaan,    Ihculd 
trach  their:  to  Ico'.;  for  a  future  rcfl:.      My  tixt  is  his 
couclulion  after  divers  arguments  to  that  end  j  a  coiy- 


/A 


8 


The  Su^nts'  Ever  lasting  Rest, 


clHlion  io  jfjful  to  a  hclit- vcr,  as  cor.taininjx  ^'le  grounj 
of  all  Ills  comforts,  the  end  of  -Al  his  duty  and  fuIFer- 
'  :  you  may  f-aHly  be  fat^Hcd,  whv  I  have  made 

jcci  of  r.iy  pr.'fent  difcourfe.  '  W!mt  more 
wclror.ir  t  >  men  under  aflictions,  tliiii  reft?  Wh.it 
more  w^Icoi^i  u-.-.vs  to  men  under  public  calamities? 
H.-arcrs,  I  ^iray  God  your  entertainment  of  it,  be  but 
hu!f  anfweruble  to  the  excellency  of  the  fubjea:  ;  and 
th.Mi  you  v/iil  have  caufc  to  bicfs  God,  while  yn  i 
]i'.  e,  that  ever  you  heard  it,  as  I  have  that  ever  I  liu- 
div-'d  it. 

Let  V".  fee,  1.  Wh'it  this  rcf>  U,  2.  What  their, 
pcojle  of  God,  and  why  fo  called.  3.  Tiie  truth  cf 
this  from  other  fcriptiire  ar^juments.  4.  T\'hy  .thi.'i 
reft  muft  yet  remain.  5.  Why  only  to  the  people  of 
Gi)J.     6.   Wliat  ufe  to  makeof  it. 

And  ihou^^h  the-  {<:n^e  of  the  text  includes  in  the 
W(u\l  Rest^  all  tirat  eale  and  faf.-ty  wjiich  a  foul,  wea- 
ried with  the  burden  of  fin  anJ  fufTrrin^,  and  purfucd 
by  law,  wrath  and  confcience,  hath  with  Ghrift  in  thi:i 
life,  the  reft  of  grace  :  yet  becaufe  it  chiefly  intends 
ihe  reft  of  eternal  glory,  I  fhall  confine  my  difcourfti: 
t)  thi-'. 

Tiie  r.ft  here  in  qu'?ftion  is,  the  mojl  happy  eftate 
ofa  chriftian,  h;^vin^-  rbtninej  the  tiid  of  his  courfc  : 
or,  it  is  tlie  perfect  endlels  fruition  of  Gon  by  the  per- 
fected faints  according  to  the  meafure  cf  their  capa- 
city, to  which  their  fouis  arrive?  at  death  :  and  both 
f  >ul  and  body  m(.ft  fully  after  tlic  reUirretliou  and 
fnul  judgment. 

1.  I  call  it  the  cRat  ?  of  a  chriftian,  to  note  botii 
tlie  a6\i\c  and,  paflive  fruition,  wherein  a  chriftian's 
•blelT-'dnefo  lies,  and  the  tftahlilhed  continuance  .cf 
both.  Our  title  will  be  perfedt,  and  perte^ly  clear- 
ed ;  ourfelv-Sj  and    fo  our   capacity    ptrfcdted  :  our 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest*  9 

polTcflion  and  fecurlty  for  its  perpetuity  perfecft  ;  our 
reception  from  God  perfcdl  ;  and  therefore  our  fru- 
ition of  him,  CLnd  coiifeauently  our  happinefs,  v/ill 
then  be  perfect.  And  this  is  the  cflAteA.hich  we  wo\r 
briefly  meniioji,  and  ihall  afterwards  niorc  fully  de- 
fer ibe. 

2.  I  call  it  the  mofl  hap"py  eftate,  to  dilTcrencc  it 
not  only  from  ^\\  leeming  ha'?pincfs  >vhich  is  to  be 
found  in  the  enjoyirent  of  creatir.frs,  but  p.lfo  trcm  all 
thofe  begiKnin,<Ts,  foretaftes,  and  inipcrfcdl  de^rce-s- 
wlilcli  we  have  in  this  life. 

3.  I  call  it  theedate  of  a  chriPtian,  'Nvliere  I  nieaa 
only  the  fir  cere,  rt  generate,  fsnclitied  chiiftian, 
whofe  foul  having  difcovtred  that  excellency  in  God 
through  Chrift,  clofeth  with  him,  and  is  cordially  fct 
upon  him. 


4.  a  add,  That  this  bappinefs  confifls  in  obtaining 
the  end,  where  I  mean  the  ultimate  arid  principal  end, 
not  ary  fubcrdinate  or  lefs  principal  end.  O  hovr 
mi-rh.  doth  cur  everlafling  flate  depend  on  our  ri^ut 
judgment  and  eflimation  of  our  end  I 

But  it  is  a  doubt  with  many,  whether  the  attain- 
ment of  lhi3  gloiy  vmy  be  our  end  ?  Nay,  coricludcd 
that  it  is  mercenary  :  yea,  that  to  make  fai\ation  the 
end  of  duty,  is  to  be  a  Lcgalilt,  and  acl  under  a  co- 


venant of 


whofe  U 


Bo  this  end  live. 


And  ivany  that  think  it  may  be  our  end,  y^t  think 
it  may  not  be  cur  ultimate*  end  ;  for  that  fliould  be  on- 
ly the  glory  of  God.     I  fnall  anfvver  ihefe  brltfiy. 

1.  It  is  properly  called  mercenary,  when  wc  e^cpeft 
it  as  wages  for  work. done  ;  ard  ib  v/e  may  not  niake 
it  our  end.  Otberwife  it  is  only  fucli  a  mercenarinefa 
as  Chrifl  commajideth.     For  confider  what  this  er.d  i?  j 


!0 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rcst^ 


it  is  the    fruition  of  G<5d  in    Ghrift  :  and    if   fceking- 
Chrifl  be  mercenary,  I  defire  to  be  fo  mercenary. 

2.  It  is  not  a  note  of  a  Le^aJift  neither.  It  hath 
been  the  ground  of  a  multitude  of  late  miftakcs  in 
divinity,  to  think,  th?.t  Do  this  and  live^  is  only  the 
language  of  the  covenafft  of  works.  It  is  true,  in 
feme  fcnfe  it  is  ;  but  in  other,  not.  The  law  of  works 
only  faith,  Do  this  (that  is,  perfecTtly  fulfil  the  whole  kw) 
end  livs  (th:it  is,  for  fo  doing)  :  B'Jt  the  law  of  gracC' 
faith,  Do  this  and  live^  too  :  that  is,  believe  in  Chrifl:, 
fc:-k  him,  obty  him  fincerely,  as  thy  Lord  and  Kiiig  : 
forfake  ail,  foffcr  all  thinos,  and  overcome,  and  by  fo 
doing,  or  in  fo  doing,  y©u  fhall  live.  If  you  f«t  up 
the  abrogated  duties  of  the  law  again,  you  are  a  Le- 
gaiiH:  :  if  you  fet  up  the  duties  of  the  gcfpel  in  Chrift's 
ftead,  in  whole  'sr  in  part,  you  err  flill.  Chrift  hatk 
his  place  and  work  ;  duty  hata  its  place  "nd  work  too  : 
fet  it  but  in  its  own  place,  and  e;:pc-5l  from  it  but  its 
own  part,  and  you  go  right  ;  yea,  more  (Low  unfa- 
voury  loever  the  phrafe  may  f^eni)  you  may,  fo  far  as 
this  comes  to,  tru!^  to  your  duty  and  works;  that  is, 
for  their  own  part  :  and  many  mifcarry  in  expcdling 
nothing-  from  them  (as  to  pray,  and  to  cxpcdt  nothing 
t'-.e  more;)  that  is,  from  Chrift  in  a  way  of  duty.  For 
if  duty  have  no  fiiarc,  why  may  we  not  trull  Chriftas 
well  in  a  way  of  difobediencn  as  duty  ?  In  a  v/ord, 
you  muO:  beta  ufc  and  iruft  duty  in  fiibcrdination  to 
Chvid,  but  riCiiher  ufit  thtjo  nor  trufl  them  in  co-cr- 
dinution  witii  hirn.  So  that  phis  derog;.tes  notliing 
from  Ciirill  ;  tcr  he  hath  done,  and  will  do  all  his 
work  pfrfedly,  and  cr.ibletii  Ins  pec])lt  to  do  theirs  : 
yet  he  i-j  not  properly  fa'.d  id  doit  hin.'ftlf ;  he  believes 
not,  repents  not,  but  wcrketh  thcfe  in  them  ;  that  is, 
enabletli  and  cxciteth  th^  ni  to  it.  No  man  niuft  look 
fci  mere  from  duty  than  Gcd  hath  Uld  upon  it  ;  and 
i'j  mutli  v.i  may  and  muH. 


The  Saints^  Everhsting  Rest.  1 1 

3.  If  I  (hould  quotr  all  the  fcripturcs  that  plainly 
prove  this,  I  Ihould  tranfcribe  a  great  part  of  the  bi- 
ble:   I -will  tlicrtfore  only  defire  you    to   ftudy  "what 
tolerable  interpretation  can  be  given  of  the  following- 
places,    -svhich    ■will    prove     that   life     and    falvatlon 
may  be,  yea,  miift  be  the  end  of  duty.     John  v.  40. 
"  Ye  will  not  come  to  me,^hatye  might  jiave  life." 
Matt,  xi.,  12.  *'  The  kingdom  of  heaven  fufFereth  vi- 
olence, and  the  violent  take  it  by  force."   ^latt.  vli.  1  3. 
Luke  xili.  24.  "  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  ftralt  gate." 
Phil.  ii.  1*2.  *'  Workout  your  falvatlon  with  fear  and 
trembling."     Rom.  ii.  7.  10.  "  To  them,  v/ho  by  pa- 
tient continuance  in  well-doing,  feek  for  glory,    and 
honour,  and  immortality,  eternal  life.  Glory,  honour^ 
and  peace,  to  every  man  that  worketh  good."    1  Cor. 
ix.  24.  "  So  run,  that  ye  may  obtain."     2  Tim.  11.  1-. 
*^  If  we  fufFer  with  him,   we  fliall  reign  with  him." 
1  Tim.  vi.  18.  **  Fight  the   good  fight  of  faith,  lay 
hold  on  eternal  life."     I  Tim.  vi.  18,  19.  ^^  That  they 
do  good  works,  laying  up  a  good  foundation  agalnft 
the   time  to  come,  that  they  may  lay  hold  on  eternal 
Jife."    Rev.  xxii.  14.  "  Bleffed  are   they  that  do  hi* 
commandments,  that  they  may  have  right  to  the  tree 
of  life,    and    enter   in  by   the    gates   into  the  city." 
Matt.  XXV.  34,  35,  36.  '^'  Gome'ye  blcffed  of  my  Fa- 
ther, inherit.  Sec.  For  I  was  an  huiigred,  and  ye,"  Sec. 
Luke  xi.  23.  "  BlefTed  are  they  that  hear  the  word  of 
God,  and  keep  it."     Yea,  tlie  efcaplng  of  hell   is  a 
right  end   of  duty  to.  a  believer.     Htb.  Iv.  1.  "Let 
us  fear,  left  a  promife  being  left  us  of  entering  into  his 
reft,  any  of  you  Ihould  come  Ihort  of  it."     Luke  xii. 
5.  "  Fear  him  that  is  able  to  deftroy  both  foul  and 
body  in  hell  ;  yea  (whatfoever  others  fay)  I  fay  unto 
you,-  fear  him."      1  Cor.  ix.  27.    "I  keep  under  tmj 
body,  and  bring  it  into  fubjedion  ;  left,  when  I  have 
preached  to  others,  I  myfelf  Ihculd  be  a  c:.ft-away." 
Multitudes  of  fciptures  and  fcr.pture-arguments  might 
be  brought,  but  thefe  may  fu^ice  to  any  that  believe 
fcripture. 


12  The  Sai7its\  Everlasting  Rest. 

4.  For  thofc  that  tlilak  this  reft  may  be  our  end, 
but  n«t  oyr  ultimate  eud,  that  iiiuft  be  God's  glory 
only  :  I  will  not  gainlay  them.  Only  let  them  con- 
sider, What  God  hath  joinedy  man  must  not  separate. 
The  glorifying  hinilclf,  and  the  faving  of  his  people 
(as  T  judge)  are  not  two  ends  with  God,  but  one  ; 
to  glorify  his  mercy  in  their  falvation  ;  fo  I  think 
they  fliould  be  with  us  tog,-cther  intended  :  wc  flioiild 
aim  at  the  glory  of  God  (not  alone  confidered,  with- 
out our  falvation,  but)  in  our  falvation.  l'1-.erefore 
I  know  no  warrant  for  putting  fuch  a  queftion  to  our- 
felves,  as  fome  do,  whether  we  could  be  content  to 
be  damned,  fo  God  were  gloriSed  ?  Chrift  hath  put 
tio  fuch  queftioiis  to  us,  nor  bid  us  put  fuch  to  our- 
felves.  Chrift  had  rather  that  men  would  enquire  af- 
ter their  true  willingnefs  to  be  faved,  than  their  wil- 
lingnefs  to  be  damned.  Sure  I  am,  Chrift  himfclf  is 
offered  to  faith,  in  terms  for  the  moft  part  refpecVing 
the  welfare  of  the  fmner,  more  than  his  own  abllradl- 
ed  glory.  He  would  be  received  as  a  Saviour,  medi- 
ator* redeemer,  reconciler,  and  intercefTor.  And  all 
the  precepts  of  fcripture  being  backed  with  fo  many 
promifes  and  threatenings,  every  one  intended  of  God, 
as  a  motive  to  us,  imply  as  much. 

5.  I  call  a  cliriftian's  bappinefi,  the  end  of  his 
courfe,  thereby  meaning,  as  Paul,  2  Tim.  iv.  7.  the 
whole  fcopc  of  his  life.  For  falvation  may  and  muft 
be'our  end  ;  and  not  only  the  end  of  our  faith  (though 
that  principally;  but  of  all  our  adlions  :  For  as  what- 
foever  we  do,  muft  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God,  fp 
muft  they  all  be  done  to  our  falvation. 

6.  Lastly,  I  make  happinefs  to  confift  in  this  end  ob- 
tained ;  for  it  is  not  the  merepromife  of  it  that  imme- 
diately makes  perfectly  happy,  nor  Chrift's  mere  pur- 
chafe,,  nor  our  mere  feeking,  but  the  apprehending  and 
obtaining;,  which  fets  the  crgwn  on  the  faint's  head. 


ir^- 


'Fliz  SainU''  Everlasting  Rc::^,  IS 

CHAP.     II. 

IFdijt  th:s  Rcot prj'iuppyjcth, 

FOR  the  clearer    unJcrOiaiicliii-j   the  nature  of  this 
reft,  you  vavS;.  Lnow, 

(1.)  There  are  fjme  thing-s  pre-fappofcvl  to  it. 

(2.)   Some  th:ii^-s  coiitau:ed  i:i  It. 

(o.)   All  thefe  things  are  pre-uippof^id  ta  tliis  r^r.. 

1.  A  perfoii  in  n:oticii,  ieekln^  refi.  This  is  man 
liere  in  the  way  :  an^X'ls  have  it  ah-eady  ;  and  the  de- 
vils are  pafl  hope. 

2.  An  end  towards  which  he  moveth  for  reft.  Tlils 
#an  bo  only  God.  He  that  taketh  any  thin^  elfe  for 
Lappincfs,  is  out  of  the  way  the  firft  ilep.  The  prin- 
cip-il  d'inmlng-  Gn,  is,  to  make  any  thiiij*;  befidts  God 
our  end  or  reft.  And  the  tirft,  tiue  favnig  atl,  is,  t» 
choofe  God  only  for  our  end  and  happinefs, 

3.  A  diftance  Is  pre-fuppofed  from  this  end,  elfe 
tlierc  can  be  no  mot'.on  towards  it.  This  fad  diftuuce 
is  the  cafe  of  ail  loankind  Gnce  the  fall  :  it  was  our 
God  that  we  principally  loft,  and  were  ftiut  out  of 
his  L^racious  preleiice  ;  and  fince  ?.re  faid  to  be  rjith- 
cut  h.'tn  in  the  world :  nay,  in  all  men,  at  ag-e,  here  is 
fuppoicJ,  not  only  a  diftance,  but  aifo  a  contrary 
inoliou.  When  Chrlft  comes  with  regenerating,  fav- 
iiig  grace,  he  finds  no  man  fitting  ftiU,  but  all  poft- 
iiig  toet>;rnal  ruin;  till,  by  conviclion,  he  firft  brmgy 
them  to  a  ftand,  and  by  converfton,  turns  kift  tKeu- 
Jienrts,  a.:ith3Ji  their  li\es,  tohiinfw'lf. 


14  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Pfst. 

■\,  IIcic  is  prc-fiippofcd  the  knowled^  of  the  true 
ultimate  cr.d  and  its  excellency  :  and  a  ftrious  in- 
tending it.  ¥oT  fo  tlie  motion  of  the  rational  crea- 
ture prpccedcth  :  an  unknown  end,  is  no  end  ;  it  is  a 
conlmdi^nion.  Wc  cannot  make  that  our  end,  which 
-we  know  not;  nor  that  our  chief  end  which  vre  know 
not,  or  judge  not  to  be  the  chief  gocd.  Therefore 
\>hcrc  this  is  not  known,  thr.t  God  is  this  end;  there 
is  no  chtaining  reft  in  any  ordinary  v.av,  "\vh;itri)C\er 
may  be  in  w  uys  that  by  God  arc  kept  Iccret. 

5.  Here  is  prc-fuppofed,  not  only  a  dillance  from 
this  reft,  but  alio  the  true  knowledge  of  this  diftance. 
If  a  man  have  loft  his  way,  and  knov/  it  not,  he  feeks 
not  to  return  :  therefore  they  that  ne\cr  knew  they 
■were  without  God,  never  yet  enjoyed  him;  and  they 
that  never  knew  they  were  adually  in  the  way  to  licll, 
did  never  yet  know  the  way  to  Iicavtn  :  nay,  there 
Avill  not  only  be  a  knowledge  of  this  diftance,  and  left 
eftate,  but  affeclions  anfAverable.  Can  a  man  find 
himfelf  on  tl.e  brink  of  hell,  and  not  tremble  ?  Or 
find  he  hath  loft  liis  God,  and  iiii  foul,  and  not  cry 
out,  /  am  undone  ! 

6.  Here  is  alfo  prc-fuppofed,  a  fupcrior  moving 
caufe,  elfe  fliould  we  all  ftand  ftill,  and  not  mave  a 
flep  forward  toward  our  reft  ;  no  more  than  the  infe- 
rior wheels  in  the  watch  would  ftir,  if  you  take  away 
the  fpring,  or  the  firft  mover.  This  is  God.  If 
God  moves  us  not,  we  cannot  move.  Therefore  it-is 
a  moft  neceffijry  part  of  our  chriilian  wifdom,  to  keep 
our  fubordination  to  God,  and  dependence  on  him  ; 
to  be  ftill  in  the  path  where  he  walks,  and  in  that  way 
v>here  his  Spirit  doth  moft  ufually  move. 

7.  Here  is  prc-fuppnCcd,  an  internal  principle  of 
life  in  the  perfon.  God  moves  not  man  like  a  ftone, 
but  by  enduing  him  firft  with  life  (not  to  enable  him 
to  uiuve  >Yit.hout   God,  but)    thereby  to   (^uidify    bini 


The  Saints''  EvsrJafitlng  Rest,  1j 

to  move  hlmfeir,  'u\   fubordination    to  Gcd,  the    Gift 
ni  overt 

8.  Kere  is  pre-fuppofcd  alfo,  fuch  a  motion  as  is 
riglrtly  ordered  and  direcled  toward  the  end.  Not  all 
motion  or  labour  brings  to  reft.  Every  way  leads  not 
totiiisend;  but  lis  whofe  goodneCs  hath,,^  appointed 
ths  end,  hath  in  his  wildom,  and  by  Ms"  fovereigii 
authority,  appointed  the  vvay,  Chi  ifl  i3  the  door,  the 
only  way  to  this  rcfl.  Some  will  allow  nothing  elfd 
to  be  called  the  way,  left  it  dero;;-ate  from  Ghrift.  The 
truth  is,  Ghrift  is  the.  oidy  way  to  the  Father  :  yet 
faith  is  tiie  way  to  Ghrift  ;  and  gofpel  obedience,  or 
faith  and  works,  the  way  for  thofe  to  v«-alk  in,  that  arc 

in  Ghrift. 

% 

9.  There  is  fuppofed  alfo,  a  ftrorig  and  conftant 
motion,  which  may  reach  the  end.  The  lazy  world 
that  think  all  too  much,  will  find  this  to  their  cell 
one  day  :  they  that  think  lefs  ado  might  have  ferved, 
do  but  reproach  Ghrift  for  making  us  fo  much  to  do. 
They  that  have  been  m.oft  holy,  watchful,  painful  to 
get  to  heaven,  f  nd,  when  they  come  to  die,  all  tec 
little  :  we  fee  daily  the  beft  chriftians,  when  dying, 
repent  their  negligence  :  I  never  knevr  any  then  repent 
his  bolinefs  and  diligence.  It  would  grieve  a  man's 
foul  to  fee  a  muhitudt  of  niiftaken  finners  lay  out  their 
care  and  pains  for  a  thing  of  nought,  and  think  to 
have  eternal  falvation  with  a  wifn.  If  the  way  to 
heaven  be  not  far  harder  than  the  world  imagine*, 
Ghrift  and  his  apoftles  knev»?  not  the  way:  for  they 
have  told  us,  *'  That  the  kingdom  of  heaven  fuiFereth 
violence  ;  that  the  gate  is  ftrait,  and  the  way  narrow  ; 
rnd  we  muft  ftrive,  if  we  will  enter;  for  mauy  iliail 
feek  to  enter,  and  not  be  able,"  (which  iirplits,  the 
faintnefs  of  their  feekin^-,and  that  they  put  not  ftrength 
to  the  vrcrk  ;)  and  that  the  rightcuus  themselves  ar£ 
scare  eh'  saved. 


16  7Af  Sai'rJs^  Everl.-tUg  Rent, 

I  have  feet)  tliis  clcfhliie  slfo  thrown  by  vith  ccw- 
tcmpt  by  others,  who  fay,  What  !  do  ye  fet  us  a  work- 
inr;  far  heaven  ?  Doth  our  duty  do  any  thing  ?  ILith 
not  ChiiR  done  nil  ?  Ts  not  this  to  inake  him  ar.  hrilf 
Saviour,  nnd  to  preach  the  law  ? 

Jl-.y^.   It  is  to  preach  the  lnv,-  of  Chr'.R  ;   lis  ftibjf^^ 
src  not  lawlefs:   it  istoprerich  duty  toChrifl.      None 
:i   more  ex  i£\  renuiror  of  duty   or  hater  of  fin,   than 
Chrift.      Chrifl  hath    clone,  and  will  do,   all  his  work  ; 
?>ntl  therefore  is  a  perfc<^  Saviour  :  but  yet  leaves  ug 
a  work  too  :    lie  hath  paid  all  the   price,    nnd  left   r* 
Ronc    to    pay  t  y^t    he    never  intendird    his    purchafe 
fliojld   put  lis  i:.to  abf^vlute  tiJt  to  glory,  in  p.iiit  (-f 
law,  much    hfs  into   immediate  poffellion.      He  hath 
pu-chaf:;d  the  crowff  to  beftow,   only  on  condition  of 
bellfvia;^,  denying    all   for    him,  fufr-ring  with  hin*, 
p^rfevering  and  overcomin^r.   He  hath  pmchafcd  juf- 
tification  to  bcflow,    only  on    condition    of  believinri;', 
yea,  repenting  and  btlieving  :   though  it  is  (thrift  that 
rnableth  alfo  to  perfcrm  the  condition.      It  is    nnt   i 
Saviour  otT-red,  but    received   alfo,  that  mufl    favc  .* 
it  is    net  the  blood  of  Chrlil  (lied   orily,  but  applied 
aifo,   that  mufl  fully  deliver  ;   nor  is  it  applied  to  the 
JLiflification  cr   falvaticn   of  a  flecpy  foul.      Nor  doth 
('hrifl  ci.rry  us  to  h.eavcn  in  a  chair  of  fr.curiiy.      0;.r 
righteoiifnefs,  which  the  law  of  v.oiks  requircth,  and 
i»y  which  It  is  fatlsfi^d,  is  wholly  in   Chriil,   an.l    n(  t 
rne  grain  in  oirfclvcs  :   nor  muil  we  d-'.rc  to  thii.k  of 
patching  up  a  leg-.d  rigliteoufncls  of  Chrifl's  and  our 
own  togetl-.er  ;   thit    is,  that  our  doings  can  be    the 
leaft  part  cf  fatii;f  .Jiicn  for  our  fn  s.   Ki.t  yet  curfclvcs. 
iT»Ui\  perfonal'y  fulfil  th^  conditions  of  ihe  new  covc- 
nmt  ;   anl  lb  have  the    pc^ifect  evangtlicid    rigteouf- 
jof-'l^,    cr  n?\er   be    JAvcd  by    Chi  id's    lighteoufntlV. 
Therefore  fay  not,  it  is  not  c!utr,  but  Chrift  ;  for  it  i? 
Chrii;  in  a  way  of  duty.      As  duty  cannot  do  it  with- 
out Cii:;f>,   io  Chriil  will  not  do  it  without  duty. 


The  Saints^  E-jsr lasting  Rest.  17 


o 


And  as  this  motion  mufi  be  flroror,  fo  i-niifl  It  be 
connant,  or  it  ^^ill  fall  fhortof  relh  To  begin  in  the 
fpirit,  and  end  in  the  tielh,  will  not  bring  to  the  end 
of  the  faints.  Men,  as  holy  as  th^  heft  of  ns,  have  fy.l- 
len  ofF,  Read  but  the  promifes,  Rev.  ii.  and  iii.  tj 
him  that  overcometh.  Chrifi's  own  difciples  nuift  b^ 
comiTianded  to  continue  in  his  love,  and  that  by  keep- 
ing his  coinmandi-nents  :  and  to  abids  in  him,  and  his 
■word  in  them.     Se.t  John  xv.  4.  5,  T),  7,  9.  10. 


CHAP     III. 

JVhat  this  Rest  containcth, 

1.    X  HERE  is  contained  in  this  Reft, 

1.  A  ceffation  from  motion  ov  aclion.  Not  from 
all  adllon,  but  of  that  which  implies  the  abfence  of 
the  end.  When  we  have  obtained  tlie  haven,  we  have 
done  f;iirmg  ;  when  we  are  at  our  journey's  end,  we 
have  done  v^'ith  the  way.  TliCrefore  prophcfying 
ceafetli,  tongues  fall,  and  knowledge  (hall  be  done 
-•way  ;  that  is,  fo  far  as  it  was  imperfttli.  There  Ihall 
be  no  more  prayer,  becaufe  no  more  necf  fTity,  but  the 
full  enjoyment  of  what  we  prayed  for.  Neither  Iball 
we  nctd  to  faft,  and  weep  and  watch  any  more,  be- 
ing out  of  the  reach  of  fin  and  temptations.  Nor  will 
there  be  ufe  for  inltrudtions  and  exhortations  :  preach- 
ing is  done  :  the  miniftry  of  man  ceafeth  :  facraments 
ufelefs:  the  labourers  called  in  bacaufe  the  harveft  is 
gathered  ;  the  unregenerate  paft  hope,  the  faints  paft 
fear,  for  ever.  Much  lefs  {hall  there  be  any  need  of 
iabouj-ing  for  inferior  ends,  as  here  we  do  ;  feeing 
they  fliall  all  devolve  themfelves  into  the  ocean  of  the 
ultimate  end,  and  the  leffer  good  be  fwallowed  up  iu 
the  grcate{\.  B  2 


18  1  hf  Saints'  Evvrlcistin^  Rat. 

?.  This  reft  contai-netli  a  perfed\  freedom  from  ail 
tViJ  evils  tliat  J'xccnipany  us  ti.rou^^h  eiir  coiirlt-,  ;.nd 
Avhlch  nccc^'arily  folLw  our  obiVnce  from  tli«i  chief 
^'::o<}. :  brfidcs  our  hv;c(lom  frcm  iliofe  eternal  fames, 
"uliicli  the  negleAors  of  Clnifl  niuft  endure,  'i  here 
ii  no  fuch  a  thing*  as  ^rief  and  forrow  knov.n  th.  it  ; 
nor  is  there  fuch  a  thing-  as  a  \i2\t  face,  ;•  languid  ho- 
tly, ieehle  joints,  unable  infancy,  dcciipid  a^o,  pec- 
cant humours,  painful  fitknefi,  griping  f/ars,  con- 
firming- caic,  nor  wha'.focver  delervcs  tlic  i..'.i7:e  of  evil. 
*T-;idecd  a  jjalc*  of  groans  and  fghs,  a  llreani  of  tears, 
Kccoir.panied  us  to  the  very  gates,  and  there  bid  u3 
fjrc^vcllfcr  ever.  "  We  did  weep  and  hiir.ent.  v.hen 
1-he  v/orhd  did  rejoice  ;  but  cur  fjrrow  is  turned  into 
j  Dy,  and  our  joy  fliall  no  man  take  from  us." 

gree  cf  per- 

'f.'ftion,  both  cf  faul  and  body.  This  qualifies  tlicrii 
to  enjoy  the  glory,  and  thoroughly  to  paitake  the 
fwectaefs  cf  it.  Were  the  gloiy  never  fo  great,  and 
tb'^j/.felves  not  made  capuble  of  it,  it  Tvoukl  be  little 
to  then:.  But  the  more  perfe<ft  the  appi-tite,  the  fweet- 
cr  the  food.  The  more  muHcal  the  ear,  tlie  m-ore 
jli-afant  the  melody.  The  more  perfeft  the  foul,  the- 
j-nore  joyous  thofe  joys,  and  the  more  glorious  is  that 
rlory.  Nor  is  it  only  finful  impcrfedlion  that  is  re- 
nioved,  nor  only  that  which  is  the  fjuit  cf  hn,  hut 
tiiat  which  adiaercd  to  us  in  onr  pure  nature.  'J'here 
is  far  more  procured  by  Chrifl,  than  was  loft  by  Adam. 
It  is  the  mil'.^ry  of  wicked  men  here,  that  all  without 
tli^m  is  rr.crcy,  but  within  them  an  heart  full  of  fm, 
flm'vS  th.e  door  againft  all,  and  nr-kes  them  but  the 
snore  n/ilVrable.  Whrn  all  is  well  witl-iin,  then  all  'a 
A/eli  indeed.  'J'heiefore  will  God,  as  a  fpcxial  part 
ol-"  his  faints'  hcippin^fs,  p.  rlevl  tlicmfclves  as  w\-ll  as 
tlieir  condition. 

4.  This  rcl\  containcth,  as  the  principal   part,  our 
nearcfl  fruition  of  God.     As  all  good   wh:ufoever  is 


'21ic  Sc 


L-j.rUi^tuiir  Bc:;t. 


I'J 


coi-npiifcd  in  God,  and  all  in  tlie  crc;iture  ure  but 
drops  of  this  octan  ;  To  all  the  glory  of  the  bl.'iTcd  ii 
curjprifed  in  their  enjoyment  of  God  :  and  if  tl;erc 
be  any  nedirae  joys  there,  tlicy  are  but  drops  from 
this*  If  iTifii  and  angels  fhould  lludy  to  Ipsa!:  the 
blcfft^iiefs  cfthat  eftati",  in  one  "word,  what  can  they 
fay  bfjyond  this,  That  it  is  the  neave>l  cnjoym«;'nt  of 
God  :  Say,  th<^y  have  God  j  and  you  lay,  they  have 
all  tiiat  is  worth  the  having,  O  ihe  full  joys  offered 
to  a  believer  In  that  one  fcntence  of  Chrift's  !  I  \vci:ld 
not  for  ali  the  woild  that  verfe  h.ad  been  left  out  of 
the  bible  ;  '•  Fatliei-,  I  will,  that  thofe  whom  thou  hail 
{jfiven  Mc,  be  with  me  v/here  I  am,  that  tliey  may  be- 
held my  glory, v.hichthou  haftgivcn  mc,"  Joim  xvii.21. 
Every  w(Md  \s  full  6f  life  and  joy.  If  the  queen  of 
Shcba  had  caufc  to  fay  of  Solomon's  glory,  '<•  Happy  arc 
tliy  men,liappyare  thefe  th.y  fervantsthat  fti.iidccntiiiu- 
iilly  before  thee,  and  that  jiear  thy  wifdom  ;"  then  fure 
they  that  Hand  continuaUy  before  God,  and  fee  his 
glory,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lamb,  are  foir.ewhat  more 
than  happy  ;  to  them  will  Chrifl  ^ive  to  eat  of  tJic 
tree  cf  lif'^^'ivhich  is  in  i/w  riiJst  cf  ths paraJise  of 
Cd}j   Ec-D.  ii.  7. 

5.  This  rcfl  contalneth  a  fweet  and  cor.Hant  a(ftion 
of  all  the  powers  of  the  foul  and  body  ia  this  fruition 
cf  God.  But  great  will  the  change  of  our  bodies  and 
fcnfes  be,  even  fo  great,  as  now  we  cannot  conceive. 
If  grace  luakes  a  chri[\ian  dltTer  fo  much  from  what 
he  v/as,  that  the  chriftian  could  fay  to  his  companion, 
r.^o  rton  sum  e^o  ;  I  am  nut  the  man  I  ivas  ;  how  much 
more  will  glury  make  us  differ  f  V7e  Kiay  tiiea  fay 
much  more,  This  is  not  the  bjdy  I  had,  and  thefe  arc, 
not  the  fcnfes  T  had.  Yet  bccaufe  we  have  no  o'Jnir 
name  for  them,  let  us  call  them  fcnfes  ;  call  them  eyes 
and  ears,  feeing  and  hearing  :  but  conceive,  that  as 
much  as  a  body  fpiritual,  above  tlie  fun  in  glory,  ex- 
cetdcth  thefe  frail,  noifome,  dlfetfed  lumps  of  fltlh, 
that  we  now  carry  about  \u  j  fo  fur  H.all  our  ftnfcS  of 


k 


20  The  Sainti^  Ever/acting  I^est, 

ieeinrj  and  Ijearing  exceed  thefe  we  now  poffefs  :  for 
the  clian^;;e  of  the  fcrnfes  mud  be  conceived  proportion- 
able to  the  changii  of  the  body.  And  doubtlefs  as 
(iod  ad\uncetli  our  f^nfc,  and  enlargeth  our  capacity  ; 
fo  wiii  He  advance  the  happinefs  of  thofe  fenfes,  -and 
fill  up  with  hinifelf  all  that  capacity.  And  certainly 
the  bfdy  fiiouLd  not  be  raifed  up,  if  it  fliould  not 
ihare  in  the  glory  :  for-us  it  hath  fliared  in  the  obe- 
dience and  fulFerin^.E,  fo  fliall  it  alfo  do  in  the  blef- 
i'cdnefb  :  and  as  Chriil  bought  the  whole  man,  fo  (Irall 
the  whole  partake  of  the  ever  lading  benefits  of  the 
purchafc! 

Aiid  if  the  body  fliall  be  thus  employed,  O  how 
fliall  the  foul  be  taken  up  !  As  its  powers  and  capaci- 
ti^^s  are  greated,  fo  its  adlions  are  ftronged,  and  its 
enjoyments  fweeted.  As  the  bodily  fenfes  have  their 
proper  aptitude  and  adlion,  -whereby  they  receive  and 
enjoy  their  objects  ;  fo  doth  the  foul  in  its  own  adi- 
on,  enjoy  its  own  objedl :  by  knowli\g,  by  thinking, 
and  rernembtring,  by  loving,  and  by  delightful  joy- 
ing :  by  thefe  eyes  it  fees,  and  by  thefe  arnrs  it  em- 
braceth.  If  it  might  be  faid  of  the  difciples  with 
Chiid  on  earth,  much  more  that  behold  him  in  his 
glory,  "  Bleficd  arc  the  eyes  that  fee  the  things  that 
you  fee,  and  the  ears  that  hear  the  things  that  you 
Lear:  for  many  princes  and  great  ones  have  dedred 
(and  hoped)  to  fee  the  things  that  you  fee,  and  have 
not  feenih-m,"   he.  Matt.  xiii.  16,  17. 

Knowledge,  cfitfclf,  is  very  defirable.  As  f.ir  as  the 
ratioiial  foul  exceeds  the  fendtive,  fo  far  the  delighta 
of  a  philcfcpher,  in  difcovering  the  fecrets  of  nature, 
and  knowing  the  mydery  of  fciences,  exceeds  the  de- 
lights of  the  glutton,  the  drunkard,  and  of  all  volup- 
tuous fenfaalids  whatfoevcr  ;  fo  excellent  is  all  truth, 
AVhat  then  is  their  delight,  who  know  the  God  of 
truth  ?  What  would  I  not  give,  fo  that  all  the  uncer* 
lain  principles  in  logic,  natural  philofophy,  metaphy- 


The  Saints'  jLverlust'mg  Re^t,  i>I 

nrs.  anJ  mecllclne,  were  Init  certain  ?  And  tbut  ny 
tluH,  cb:c.iire  notions  of  them,  wt-re  but  q'j;c?r  and 
clear  ?  O  what  th:fn  would  1  not  perfoira,  or  part  with, 
to  enjoy  a  clear  and  true  apprehenHon  of  the  moft  true. 
God  1  H)w  noble  afaculir)'  of  tlie  foul  is  the  undtr- 
flanding-  !  it  can  compafs'  the  earth  ;  it  can  ineafurc 
the  fun,  moon,  flars,  and  heaven  ;  It  can  foreknovr 
each  ecllpfe  to  a  minute,  many  years  before  :  yea,  but 
this  is  the  top  of  ell  its  excellency,  it  can  know  God, 
%vho  is  infinite,  who  n:ade  nil  thefe  ;  a  little  here, 
and  much  more  hereafter.  O  the  v.'ifdoin  and  good- 
nefs  of  our  blelTcd  Lord.  '  he  haih  created  tlie  under- 
fl.ii:ding  with  a  natural  bias  to  truths  and  its  objcft  ; 
and  to  the  prime  truth  as  its  prime  obje 61  :  ai.d  Icil 
we  fhould  turn  a  fide  to  any  creature,  he  hath  kept 
this  as  Ills  ov.n  divine  prerogative,  not  communicable 
to  any  cre.imre,   viz,    to  be  the  prime  truth. 

Ditin:  thou  never  lock  fo  long  upon  the  Son  ofGoa,, 
tin  thine  eyfs  were  dazzled  wi:h  his  aflonifliing  glc- 
ry  ?  and  did  not  the  fplendor  of  it  make  all  thing-^ 
b.-lnw  fcem  black  and  da:k  to  thee,  when  thou  look- 
cdil  dov.n  again,  efpccially  in  the  days  of  fufTerinj 
f.)r  Chrift  (when  lie  ufually  appears  mofl  manifcfUy  to 
h";s  people  ?)  dldfl  thou  never  fee  one  ivalking  in  the 
m  'H  .t  vf  the fitry  furnace  vjttk  thce^ like  thg Sjn  ofG:d? 
If  thou  know  him,  value  him  as  thy  llfu,  and  ft.llow 
on  to  know  him  ;  and  thou  fhalt  know  ir.ccmpaiably 
nioie  than  tliis.  Or  if  I  do  but  renew  thy  grief,  tj 
tt-Il  thee  V,  hat  thou  once  ditlft  ftel  but  now  haft  loft  ; 
1  counlclthee  to  *' remember  whence  thou  ait  f'.llen,anJ 
repent,  ar;d  do  the  firil  works,  and  be  watchful,  anl 
flrtiigthtn  the  things  which  remain  ;"  and  I  J.ire  promif:i 
thee  (becaufe  God  hath  promifcd)  thou  Ihi'.lt  fee  ai.d 
know  that  uhich  here  thine  tyn  could  net  {"ce,  nor 
tiiy  undtriiandljig  conceive.  Believe  me,  chrlltia'.is, 
yea,  believe  God  ;  you  that  have  known  moR  of 
God  in  Ghrifl  here,  it  is  nothing  to  that  )-oa  ihall 
k;!OW;    i':  fc.ircc,    in  comparifon  cf  that,  d.f;;rve3    to 


C-  'The  SciiiU''  Li'erlastlng  Rest, 

be  called  knowledge.  Tiie  dlfTc-rence  betwixt  our- 
kr.o\v!,»]ge  now,  and  our  kno'.vhd^-e  then,  will  be  as 
great  as  that  between  our  flefhly  bodies  now,  and  our 
fpiritual  bodies  then.  For  as  thefe  bcciies,  fo  tliat 
knowledge  mud  ceafe,  that  a  more  pcrtV cl  may  luc- 
ccifd.  Our  (illy  childifli  thoughts  of  God,  whicli 
DDw  Is  the  hlgheft  we  can  reach  to,  mult  give  place 
to  a  iPiOrc  manly  kno\\  ledge. 

Marvel  not,  therefore,  how  It  can  be  life  eternal  t9 
know  God  end  his  son  Jesus  Christ  :  to  enjoy  God 
and  his  Chrift  is  eternal  life,  and  the  foul's  enjoying- 
is  in  knowing.  They  that  favour  only  of  cartli,  and 
have  no  way  to  judge  but  by  fenfe,  and  never  were 
•acquainted  wltli  this  knowledge  of  God,  think  it  ti 
poor  happinefs  to  know  God,  Let  theirt  have  health 
and  wealth,  and  worldly  delights,  and  take  you  the 
other.  Alas,  poor  m:=n  I  they  that  have  made  trial 
of  both,  do  not  envy  your  happlnefs  :  O  that  you 
wculdcome  near,  and  ta fie  and  try  as  they  ba^^e  done, 
and  then  judge  ;  then  continue  in  your  former  mind, 
if  you  can.  For  our  parts  we  fay  with  that  knowing 
apofUe  (though  the  fpeech  may  feem  prefumptuous) 
1  John  V.  19,  20.  '»  We  know  that  we  are  of  God,  and 
tue  whole  world  lieth  in  v/xkednefs :  and  we  know  that 
thi  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hacli  given  us  an  ujiderRand- 
ing,  that  we  may  know  him  that  is  true  ;  and  we  are  in 
him  that  is  true,  in  his  Son  Jefus  Chriil :  this  Is  the  true 
God  and  eternal  life."  The  S(yn  of  God  is  come  to  he 
our  head  :..nd  fountain  of  life,  a7id  hath  gi'jin  us  an 
v.7iderstanding^  that  the  foul  may  b;;  made  capable  to 
know  him  (God)  that  is  trus^  the  prim:;  truth  ;  and 
ive  are  brought  fo  near  to  this  enjoyment,  that  ive 
are  in  Jiim  that  is  trus :  we  are  in  him,  by  being  in  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ ;  this  is  the  true  God,  and  fo  the  fit- 
tell  objccl  for  our  underuanding,  and  this  knowing  of 
him,  and  being  in  him,  in  Christ,  is  eternal  Hje% 


k 


The  Saints'  E'oerlast'uig  Re^ji.  23 

/nd  cloiibtlefs   the  memory  Avill  not  be  idle  in  th'fs 
blelTed  work.     If  it  be  but  by  looking  back,  to  help 
the  Ibul  to  value  its  enjoyment.  •  Our  kno\vlccl!je  -»vill 
be   enlarged,  not   dimlnillvid  ;    therefore  the    know- 
ledge of  things  pafl  (ball  not  be  tuken  away.      From 
that  height  the  faint  can  look  behind  him  and  before 
him  :   and   to  compare  part  with  prefent  things,  muft 
needs  rfiife  in  the  bleflcd  fool  an  unconceivable  fenfe 
of  its  condition.     To   fiand   on  that  mount,  v/hcnce 
we  can  fee  the  wilderncfs  and  Canaan  both  at  once  ; 
to  fland  in  heaven,  and  look  back  on  earth,  and  weigh 
them  together  in  the  balance,  how  muft  it  tranfport 
the  foul,  and  m.ake    it  cry  out,  Is  this   the   purchafe 
that  coft  fo  dear  as  the  blood  of  God  ;  OblefTtd  price, 
and  thrice  bbft'td  love  !   Is  this  the  end  of  believing? 
15  this  the    end   of  the  Spirit's    v/orkings  ?    have    the 
gales  of  grace  blown  me  into  fuch    an  harbour  ?   is  it 
hither    that  Chrill:  hath  enticed   my  foul  ?  O  blelT^-d 
way,  and  thrice  blelfed  end  !  Is  this  the  glory  whicli 
th'-    fcripLurcs  fpoke  of,  and  miniRers  preached  of  fo 
much  ?   Now  I  fee  the  gofpel  indeed  is  good   tidings^ 
«ven  tidings  of  great  Joy  to  all  nations  !  Is  my  mourn- 
ing, my  failing,  my  heavy  walking,  groanings,  com- 
plainings, come  to    thib  ?   Are  all  my  aifli^lions   and 
fears,  all  Satan's  temptations  and  the  world's  fcorns, 
come    to    this  ?   O  vile    nature,  that    refifted  fuch  a 
bleffing  1  Unv/orthy  foul  I  is  this  the  place  thou  ca'mefl: 
fo  unwillingly    to  ?   was  the  world  too   good  to  lofe  ? 
didft  thou  flick  at  leaving    all,  denying  all,  and  fuf- 
fering   any    thing   for  this  ?   O  falfe  heart  1  that  had 
almoll  betrayed  me  to  eternal    flames,  and    loft    me 
this  glory  1  O  bafe  flefh  1  thatwould  needs  kavc  been 
pleafed,  though  to  the  lofsof  this  felicity  I  didft  thou 
make  me  to    queftion  the   tnith  of  this  glory  ?  d;d(l 
thou   draw    me  to    diftruft    the  Lord  ?   My  foul,  art 
thou  net  afhamed  that  ever   thou  didft  queftion  tiiat 
love  that   hath   brought  thee   hither  ?  that  thou  waft 
jealous    of  the  faithfuinefs    of  thy  Lord  ?  that   thou 
fulptdedft    his   love,  when   thou    fliouldft  haVe  only 


24  The  Saintly*  ILvcrlastin^  J^e^t 


o 


furpcifled  thyfclf?  tlaat  thou  dicld  not  live  continu- 
ally tranfported  with  thy  Saviour's  love  ?  and  that 
ever  tliou  quenchedft  a  motion  of  his  Spirit  ?  art  thou 
not  afiiamed  of  all  thy  hard  thoughts  of  futh  a  (iod  f 
cf  all  thy  mif-ijiterprcting  thofe  providences,  and  re-- 
pining  at  thofe  ways  that  have  fuch  an  end  ?  No\*- 
thou  art  convinced  that  the  ways  thou  Culledll  hard, 
?nd  the  cup  thou  calleufl  bitter,  were  neceffary  :  that 
thy  Lord  meant  thee  better  than  thou  wouldft  be- 
lieve ;  and  that  thy  Redeemer  was  faving  thee,  as 
■v/cll  when  he  croiTed  thy  dcfires,  as  when  he  granted 
theni  ;  as  well  wh?n  he  broke  th}-  heart,  as  when  he 
bound  it  vin.  No  thanks  to  thee,  far  this  crown  ;  but 
fo  Jehot^ck  and  the  Lamb  for  ever. 

Thus,  as  the  memory  of  the  wicked  will  eternally 
promote  their  torment,  to  look  back  on  the  iiii  com- 
mitted, the  grace  refufed,  Clirifl  negledted,  and  time 
loft  ;  fo  will  the  memory  of  the  faints  for  ever  pro- 
mote their  joys. 

But  O  the  full,  the  near,  the  fweet  enjoyment,  is 
that  of  the  affedliofis,  love  and  joy  :  it  is  near,  for 
love  is  the  efience  of  the  foul,  and  love  is  the  efTcncc 
of  God.  God  is  love^  and  he  that  divclUth  in  Icvc 
diveJleth  in  God,  ami  God  in  liini.  The  acting  of 
this  affe<nion  wherefoever,  carrieth  much  delight  with 
it  ;  efpecially  when  the  objedl  appears  deferring,  and 
the  affeftion  is  Itrong.  But  what  will  it  be,  whtu 
peiTcdl  aff>!(flions  fiiall  have  the  flrongeft,  perfe£l  act- 
ing upon  the  moft  pcrfett  cbjedl  ?  Now  the  poor  foul 
cor,iplaii;s,  O  that  I  could  love  Chiiil  more  1  But  I 
cannot,  alas,  I  cannot  :  yea,  but  then  thou  canll  net 
thcofe  but  love  him  ;  I  had  almoft  faid,  forbear  if 
thcu  canR,  Now  thou  knoweltlittle  of  his  amiable- 
iiefs,  and  therefore  loveft  little  :  then  thine  eye  will 
afte(Sl  'thy  heart,  and  the  continual  vie\ving  of  that 
perfect  beauty,  will  keep  thee  in  continual  ravilhments 
of  love.     Now  thy  falvation  is  not  perf>:ftcd,  n^ir  all 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  2S 

the  mercies  purchafed,  yet  given  in  :  but  \^aen  the 
top  stone  is  set  on^  thou  shalt  with  shoutings  crj,  grace^ 
grace,  Chriftians,  doth  it  now  f'cir  up  your  love,  to 
remember  all  the  experiences  of  his  love  ;  to  look 
back  upon  a  life  of  mercies  ?  doth  not  kinJnefs  melt 
you  ?  and  the  funfliine  of  divine  goodnefs  v/arm  your 
frozen  hearts  ?  What  will  it  do  then,  \vhcn  you  fhall 
live  in  love,  and  have  all  in  kim,  who  is  all  ?  O  the 
h\g\\  delights  of  love  I  of  this  love  !  the  content  that 
the  heart  fincleth  in  it  !  the  fatisfadtion  it  bringsalong 
with  it  1   furely  love  is  both  work  and  wages. 

And  if  this  were  all,  what  a  high  favour,  that  Goi 
vill  give  us  leave  to  love  him  !  that  he  will  vouchfafc 
to  be  embraced  by  fuch  arms  that  have  embraced  fin 
before  him  I  But  this  is  not  all,  he  returncth  love  for 
love  :  nay,  a  thoufand  times  mere,  as  pcrfedl  as  wc 
{hall  be,  we  cannot  reach  his  meafure  of  love  :  chrif^ 
tian,  thou  wilt  then  be  brimful  of  love  ;  yet  love  as 
much  as  thou  canft,  thou  {halt  be  ten  tlioufand  times 
more  beloved.  Doft  thou  think  thou  canfl  over-love 
him?  what,  love  more  than  love  itfelf!  were  the 
arms  of  the  Son  of  God  open  upon  the  crofs,  and  an. 
opci*  palTage  made  to  his  heart  by  the  fpear  ?  and  \\\\\ 
not  arms  and  heart  be  open  to  thee  in  glory  ?  did  he 
begin  to  love  before  thou  lovedft,  and  will  he  not  con- 
tinue now  ?  did  be  love  thee  an  enemy  ?  thee  a  finner  I 
thee  v/ho  even  loathedfl  thyfelf  ?  and  own  thee  when 
thou  didfl  difclaim  thyfelf?  and  v/ill  lie  not  now  un- 
meafurably  love  thee  a  iba  ?  thee  a  peifeifl  faint :  thee, 
■who  returnefl:  love  for  love  ?  thou  waft  wont  injuriouf- 
ly  to  queftion  his  love  :  doubt  of  it  now  if  thou  canft. 
As  the  pains  of  hell  will  convince  the  rebellious  Tin- 
ner of  God's  wrath,  who  would  never  before  believe 
it  :  fo  the  joys  of  heaven  will  convince  thee  thorough- 
ly of  that  love  which  thou  wouldft  fo  hardly  be  pcr- 
fuaded  of.  He  that  in  love  wept  over  the  old  Jerufa- 
lem  near  her  ruins ;  with  what  love  "vvill  he  rejoice 
G 


2*  The  Subit^^  Evcrlasthig  R^et* 

oyer  the  ncvr  Jerufak  m  in  her  glory  ?  Methinks  I  fee 
him  groaning-  and  weeping  over  d^.ad  Lazrriis,  till  ho 
forced  the  Jews  that  Rood  by  to  fay,  Behold  how  he 
loved  him  I  will  he  net  then  much  more  by  rejcicing 
over  us,  make  all  (even  the  damned,  if  they"fte  it) 
fry,  beheld  Jioiv  he  loveth  them  ! 

Here  is  the  heaven  of  heaven!  the  fruition  of  God  : 
in  thefe  mutable  embracemcnts  of  love,  doth  it  ccnfifl. 
To  love,  and  be  beloved  :  "  Thefe  are  the  everlaftlng 
arms  that  are  underneath  :  his  left  hand  is  under  their 
heads,  and v/ith his  right  handdoth  he  embrace  thtm.'* 

Stop  here  and  think  a  while  what  a  (^ate  this  is. 
Is  it  a  fmall  thing  to  be  beloved  of  God  ?  to  be  the 
fen,  the  fpoufe,  the  love,  the  delight  of  the  King  of 
glory  ?  Believe  this,  and  think  on  it  :  thou  fhalt  be 
erernally  embraced  in  the  arms  of  that  love,  which  was 
from  everlaftingand  will  extend  toeverUfting  ;  of  that 
love,  v/hich  biought  tho  Son  of  God's  love  from  hea- 
▼en  to  earth,  from  earth  to  the  crofs,  from  the  crofs 
to  the  grave,  from  the  grave  to  glory  ;  that  love, 
which  was  weary,  hungry,  tempted,  fcorned,  fcourg- 
cd,  buffetted,  fpit  upon,  crucified,  pierced;  which 
did  fail:,  pray,  teach,  heal,  weep,  fweat,  bleed,  die: 
that  love  will  eternally  embrace  them.  When  perfedl 
created  love,  and  mofi  perfedl  uncreated  lo¥e  meet  to- 
gether, O  the  bleffed  meeting  I  It  will  not  be  like  Jo- 
icph  and  his  brethren,  who  lay  upon  one  another's  necks 
weeping  :  it  will  break  forth  into  pure  joy  ;  not  a  mix- 
ture cf  joy  and  forrow  :  it  will  be  loving  and  rejoicing, 
not  loving  and  forrowing  ;  yet  v^ill  it  make  Pliaraoh's 
(Satan's)  court  to  ring,  with  the  news  that  Jofcph's 
brethren  are  ccme  ;  that  the  faints  are  arrived  fafe  at 
the  bclbm  of  Ghrift,  out  of  the  reach  of  hell  far  ever. 

Ar.d  now^  are  v/e  not  left  in  the  apoftle's  admiration  ? 
nvhat  .■'.hall  vje  saj  to  these  things  ?  Infinite  love  muft 
aeeds  be  amyftery  to  a  finite  capacity.     No  wonder, 


The  Sal:it^  EvcrlaaingRcot,  ftf 

ii  iiivTcls  clcfirc  to  pry  iiuo  the  mylkiy  ;  and  if  k_be 
the  aufly  of  the  fauics  here, '^  to  know  the  height  ai.d 
breadth,  aiid  1-ngth,  and  d,-pth  of  tins  love,  thon^h 
it  paffcih  knowledge  :"  tliis  is  the  f^iiVvi'  i^Il  in  the 
fruition  of  God  by  Ijve. 

Lastly,  The  aff^aion  of  joy  hath  not  the  leaPt  n^arc 
in  this  frui'ioa.  The  inconceivable  complacency 
T'hich  the  bicff.d  feel  in  their  feeing,  knov,'ing-,  lov- 
ing, and  being  beloved  of  God.  The  delight  of  tha 
f-nft*s  her-,  cannot  be  known  by  eiprefiioiiG,  as  tliey 
are  fit  :  how  niucii  iefi  this  joy  ?  This  is  the  ivhitt 
slonc^  luhuh  none  knovjifth  iui  he  that  receheth  :  and 
if  there  be  any  joy  which  the  Qrangcr  meddk^th  not  ^T^th, 
then  fartly  this,  abcre  all,  is  it.  All  Chriil's  ways 
of  mercy  tend  to,  and  e3:d  in  the  faints'  joys.  He 
wept,  forrowed,  fufTired,  that  they  might  rejcice  : 
he  fendeth  the  fpirit  to  be  tlieir  comforter  :  he  nnilLJ- 
plleth  promifes,  he  difcovcrs  their  future  happlnefs, 
that  their  joy  might  be  full  ;  he  aboundcih  to  them  in 
mercies  of  all  fort?  :  "  he  rnaketh  them  lie  down  iii 
green  paflures,  and  leadeth  them  by  the  Rill  v.aters  ; 
yea,  openeth  to  them  the  fuuntain  of  living  waters,  that 
their  joy  may  be  full,  that  they  may  third  no  more, 
and  that  it  may  fpring  up  in  them  to  everluiVmg  life  :" 
he  caufet]^  them  to  fuffer,  that  he  may  caufe  them  to 
rejoice  ;  and  challeneth  them,  that  he  may  give  them 
reft  ;  and  maketh  them  (as  he  did  himfclf)  todr'r.ik  of 
tJiC  brouk  in  the  ivavi  that  they  may  lift  up  the  hcad^ 
Plalm  ex.  7.  And  left  after  all  this  they  fliould  ne- 
glect their  own  comforts,  he  maketh  it  their  duty, 
commanding  them  to  rejoice  in  Jiim  alnvq^'.  And  h"« 
never  brings  them  into  lb  low  a  condition,  whereia 
he  leaves  them  not  more  caufe  of  joy  than  of  furrow. 
And  hath  the  Lord  iuch  a  care  for  us  here  :  where, 
the  bridegroom  being  from  us,  v/e  muft  mourn  ?  O  ! 
what  will  that  joy  be,  where,  the  foul  being  perfcd- 
ly    prepared  for    joy,  zvA  joy  prepared    by  Chrift  fur 


28  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest* 

the  foul,  it  fli:ill  be  our   work,  cur  bufinefs  eternally 
to  rejoice  ? 

Anil  it  feems  the  faints'  joy  fliall  be  greater  than  the 
damncd's  torment:  for  their  torment  is  the  tormenc 
of  CiX^tuves,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels  :  but 
our  joy  is  the  Joy  of  our  Lord^  even  our  Lord's  own 
joy  ihall  we  enter.  And  the  same  glory  ivhich  the  Fa- 
ther  giveth  him.,  doth  the  son  give  them.,  John  xvil.  2  2, 
^ind  to  sit  dorjn  iviih  him  in  his  throne^  even  as  he  is  set- 
doivn  in  his  Father's  throne^  Rev.  iii,  2  1.  Thou  that 
now  fpenJefl  thy  days  in  forrow,  who  knoweft  no 
garments  but  fackcloth,  no  food  but  the  bread  and 
water  of  affiiclions,  what  fayefl:  thou  to  this  great 
change  ?  from  all  forrow  to  mere  than  all  joy  ?  Thcu 
poor  foul,  who  prayeft  for  joy,  complaineft  for  want 
of  joy,  then  thou  (halt  have  full  joy,  as  much  as  thou 
canH:  hold,  and  more  than  ever  thou  thoughtell  on,  or 
thy  heart  defiredr 

And  in  the  m.ean  time  v/alk  carefully,  watch  con- 
ftantly,  and  then  let  God  meafare  out  thy  times  and 
degrees  of  joy.  It  may  be  he  keeps  them  till  thou 
hafl  more  need  :  thou  mayeft  feetter  lofe  thy  comfort, 
than  thy  fafety  :  as  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite,  fo  the 
fears  of  the  upright,  are  but  for  a  moment.  Weeping 
maj  endure  for  a  night.,  but  joy  comet  h  in  the  mornijig* 
O  blelTcd  morning  1  Poor  drooping  foul,  how  would 
it  fill  thee  with  joy  now,  if  a  voice  from  htavcnUiould 
affure  thc*e  of  thy  part  in  thefe  joys  1  What  then  will 
thy  joy  be,  when  thy  adlual  pciicfiion  fiiall  convince 
thee  of  thy  title  ;  when  the  angels  (hall  bring  thee  to 
Chrifl,  and  when  Chrifl  Hiali  (as  it  were)  take  thee  by 
the  hand,  and  lead  thee  into  thy  purchafed  podeffion  ? 
Wilt  thou  not  be  almoft  ready  to  draw  back,  and  to 
fay.  What  I,  Lord,  I,  the  unworthy  negltdor  of  thy 
grace  1  I,  the  unworthy  difelleemer  of  thy  blood,  and 
{lighter  of  thy  love  1  Mud  I  have  this  glory  ?  Jllake 
me  an  hired  servant-^  1  amno  more  ivorthj  to  b:  called 


TJte  Saints'  E-ccrlactlng  Rest.  29 

M  son  :  but  love  v>-ill  liave  It  fo  ;   therefore  tl.ou  muft 
enter  into  this  joy. 

And  it  is  net  tliy  joy  only  :  it  is  a  mutual  joy,  a-s 
■well  as  mutual  love  :  is  there  fuch  joy  in  heaven  at 
thy  converfion,  and  will  there  be  none  at  thy  gloriHi-U- 
tion  ?  Will  not  the  angels  welcome  thee  thither,  and 
con;j;ratulate  thy  fafe  arrival  ?  Yea,  it  is  the  joy  cf 
Jofus  Ghrifl  :  for  now  he  hath  the  end  of  his  labour, 
fuffering,  dying,  when  we  have  our  joys  ;  "  \vhen  ha 
is  glorified  in  his  faints,  and  ad;nired  in  all  them  that 
believe.  Wc  are  his  feed,  and  the  fruit  of  h;s  foiil's 
travail,  which  when  he  fceth,  he  wilKbe  fatisfied  :" 
he  will  rejoice  over  his  purchafcd  inheritance,  and  his 
people  fliall  rejoice  in  him. 

Yea,  the  Father  himfclf  puts  on  joy  too,  in  cur 
joy  :  as  wc  grieve  his  Spirit,  and  weary  him  with  our 
inicjuities  ;  fohe  is  rejoiced  in  our  good.  O  how  quick- 
ly here  doth  he  fpy  a  returning  prodigal,  even  afur  olTI 
How  doth  he  run  and  meet  him,  fallen  his  neck,  and 
kifs  him  1  This  is  indeed  a  happy  meeting  :  but  no- 
thing to  the  joy  of  that  lafl  and  great  meeting. 

And  now  look  back  upon  all  this  :  I  fay  to  thee  zi 
th^  angel  to  John,  What  hast  thou  seen  ?  Or  if  yet  thou 
perceive  not,  draw  nearer,  come  up  higher,  Come  and 
see  :  dofl  thou  fear  thou  haft  bten  all  this  wliile  in  a 
dream  ?  Why,  These  are  the  true  sojings  of  God*  D^ft 
thou  fear  (as  the  difciples)  that  thou  hkil  feen  but  a 
gholl  inftead  of  Chrift  ?  a  fhadow  inftead  of  the  reft  I 
Come  near,  and  feel  :  a  fhadow  contains  not  thcf;; 
fubftantial  bleflings,  nor  refts  upon  fuch  a  fuie  word 
of  promife,  as  you  have  feen  the fe  do.  Go  thy  way 
now,  and  tell  the  difciples,  and  tell  the  drooping  fouls 
thcu  meeteft  with,  tha.t  thou  haft,  in  this  {•.lafs,  feen 
heaven  ;  x.h'a.t  the  Lord  viulced  is  risen^  and  hath  hem 
appeared  to  thee  ;  and  behold  he  is  gone  before  us  iiUi 
C  2 


30  The  Sajfits^  Everlasting  Rest, 

reft:  and  that  he  is  now  preparing  a  plrc?  for  theni> 
an;l  will  come  again,  and  take  theci  to  himlcif,  that 
xshere  he  isj  there  thej  maj  be  also. 

But  alaj  !  my  fearful  heart  dares  fcarce  proceed  : 
methinks  I  bear  the  ^Vlmighty's  voice,  laying  to  me^ 
as  to  Elibu,  Job  xxxviii,  '2.  JF/io  is  thn  that  dark" 
cr.zth  counsel  by  Kvords  ^ithsut  kno'aledg:  ? 

But  pardon,  ©  Lord,  thy  fervani's  fin :  I  have 
-3t  pried  into  unrevealed  things,  nor  curioufly  fearch- 
ed  iato  thy  coanfels  ;  but  indeed  I  have  difhoncred 
thy  holiu^fs,  wronged  thine  excellency,  dilgraced  thy 
faints*  glory,  by  my  difpioportionable  poartraying  : 
I  will  bewail  from  my  heart  that  my  apprel.enfions 
are  fD  dull,  my  thoughts  fo  mean,  my  afFrClions  fo 
ftupid,  and  my  expreflions  fo  low.  But  I  have  only 
heard  by  thehearing  of  the  ear  ;  Olet  thy  fervant  fee 
thee,  and  poiTefs  thtfe  joys,  and  then  I  fiiall  have 
mor3  fuitable  conceivings,  and  Ihail  give  th^e  fuller 
gl«ry.  "  I  have  nov/  uttered  that  I  underftood  not  ; 
th'uigs  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I  knew  not.  Yet  I 
believed,  and  therefore  fpeak."  Remember  with  whom 
thou  hail  to  do  :  what  canft  thcu  expect  from  duft, 
from  corruplion,  but  defilement?  Our  foul  hands 
will  leave,  where  they  touch-  the  narks  of  their  iw 
deannefs  ;  and  moft  on  thofe  things  that  are  moil 
]^re.  **  I  know  thou  wilt  be  fancliaed  in  them  that 
come  nigh  thei,  and  before  all  the  people  thou  Wik  be 
glorified  ;"  and  if  thy  jealcufy  excluded  from  that  land 
of  reft,  tliy  fervants  Mofes  and  Aaron,  bccaufe  ti  ey 
fan£ti&ed  thee  nrt  in  the  miJll  of  ifrael  ;  what  then 
may  I  expe«fl?  But  though  the  weakntfs  be  tbe  fruit 
of  my  own  coiruption  :  yet  the  fire  is  from  tlune  ai:ar, 
and  the  work  of  thy  commanding,  I  looked  not  iiita 
thine  ark,  nar  put  forth  my  hand  unto  it  without 
thee.  O  therefore  waih  away  thefc  daius  Hio  ia  tks 
bbcd  of  the  Lamb  1 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  51 

CHAP.     IV. 

The  four  great  Preparations  to  our  Rest, 

HAVING  thus  fhewed  you  a  fmall  glimpfc  of  that 
reieinblance  of  the  faints'  reft,  which  I  had  ftcu 
iu  the  gofpel  glafs  :  it  follows,  that  we  proceed  to 
view  a  little  the  bltfTcd  properties  cf  this  reft.  And 
why  doth  my  trembling  heart  draw  back  ?  Surely  the 
Lord  is  not  now  fo  inacceflible,  nor  the  way  fo  block- 
ed up,  as  when  the  lav/  and  curfc  reigned.  Wherefore, 
findin.^the  flaming  fword  removed,  1  Ihail  look  again 
into  the  paradife  of  our  God, 

And  firft,  let  us  confider  the  great  preparations  : 
for  the  porch  of  this  temple  is  eivccedingly  glorioyf. 
Let  us  obferve, 

1.  The  moft  glorious  coming  of  the  Son  of  God. 

'2.  His  raifing  our  bodies,  and  uniting  them  agaia 
with  the  foul. 

3.  His  foicmn  proceedings  in  their  judgment,  whercJ- 
they  fliall  be  juftified  before  ail  the  world. 

4.  His  enthroning  them  in  glory. 

1.  And  well  may  the  coming  of  Chrlft  be  reckoa- 
ed  with  thofe  ingredients  that  coirpound  this  preci- 
ous rtlt  :  for  to  this  end  it  is  intended  ;  and  to  thi«i 
end  it  is  of  apparent  neceirity.  For  his  people's  fake 
he  fandliiied  himfelf  to  his  oiKcs  :  for  the;r  fake  he 
came  into  the  world,  fuifered,  died,  aroic,  al'cended  : 
and  for  their  lake  it  is  that  he  will  retuin.  To  this 
cud  will  Chrift  come  again  to  receive  his  people  to 
himieUj   That  where  hd   ;j,  thsj    maj  be  (ilso»  Jolui 


32  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

?/iv.  3.  He  that  would  come  to  fuffer,  \vill  furely  come 
to  triumph  :  and  he  that  would  come  to  purchafe, 
^\ill  liirely  come  to  poficf^. 

But  wliy  flayed  he  not  with  his  people  while  he 
was  here  ?  Why  ?  muft  not  the  comforter  be  fent  ? 
"Was  not  the  work  on  earth  done  ?  Muft  lie  net  re- 
ceive the  recompcnfe  of  reward,  and  enter  into  hii 
glory?  Muft  he  not  take  poffefllon  in  our  behalf? 
Muft  he  not  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  us  ?  Muft  he  not 
intercede  with  the  Father,  and  ple.id  his  fuCerlngs, 
and  be  filled  with  the  Spirit  to  fond  it  forth,  and  rc- 
ctive  authority  to  fubdue  his  enemies  ?  Our  abode 
here  is  ftiort  ;  if  he  had  ftaytd  on  earth,  what  would 
it  have  been  to  enjoy  him  for  a  few  days,  and  then 
die  ?  But  he  hath  more  in  heaven  to  dwell  among  ; 
even  the  fpirits  of  the  juft  of  many  generations,  there 
made  perfect.  O  rrhat  a  day  will  that  be  \  when  wc 
who  have  been  kept  prifonersby  the  grave,  fhall  be 
fetched  out  by  the  Lord  himfclf  ;  when  Chrift  fliall 
come  from  heaven  to  plead  with  his  enemies,  and  fet 
his  captives  free  ?  It  will  not  be  fuch  a  coming  as  hii 
firft  was,  in  meannefs,  and  poverty,  and  contempt : 
he  will  nQt  come  to  be  fpit  upon,  and  bufletted,  and 
fcorned,  and  crucified  again  :  he  will  not  come,  O 
carelefs  world  !  to  be  flighted  by  you  any  more.  And 
yet  that  coming  v;hich  was  in  infirmity  and  reproach 
for  our  fakes,  wanted  not  its  glory.  If  the  angels  of 
heaven  muft  be  the  mtfTcngers  of  that  coming,  as  be- 
ing Tidings  of  joy  to  all  people  :  and  the  heavenly  heft 
muft  accompany  his  nativity,  and  muft  praife  God 
with  that  fulemnity  :  O  with  that  llioutings  will  an- 
gels and  faints  at  that  day  proclaim,  Glory  to  God, 
and  peace  and  good-will  tcnvards  men  !  If  the  ftars  of 
heaven  m.uft  lead  men  to  come  to  worfhip  a  child  in  a 
manger,  how  will  the  glory  of  his  next  appearing 
conftrain  all  the  world  to  acknowk-dgc  his  fovereign- 
ty  !  If  when  he  was  in  the  form  of  a  fervant,  they 
cry  out,>'  What  manner  of  man  is  this,  that  both  wind 


The  SainU^  Ever  lasting  Rest,  S3 

and  Tea  obey  him  '.'*  What  (hall  they  fiw  when  they  (hall 
fee  him  coi^iing"  in  his  glory,  and  the  heavens  and 
earth  obey  him  ?  "  Then  fliall  appear  the  fign  of  the  Sen 
cf  man  in  heaven,  and  then  fhall  all  the  tribes  of  the 
earth  mourn,  and  they  (hail  Jee  the  Sf>n  of  man  coming 
in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory.'* 

This  comin,!^  of  Chrifl  is  frequently  mentioned  in 
the  prophets,  as  the  great  fupport  of  his  people's  fpirits 
till  then.  And  whenever  the  apoftles  would  quicken. 
to  duty,  or  encourage  to  patient  waiting,  they  ufual- 
ly  do  it  by  mentioniu;^  Chri ft' scorning.  Wiiy  then, 
do  we  not  ufe  more  this  cordial  rcnGderation,  when- 
ever we  want  fupport  and  comfort  ?  Shall  the  wicked 
with  inconceivable  horror  behold  him,  and  cry  out, 
Yonder  is  he  whofc  blood  we  negled^ed,  whofe  grace 
we  reilfted,  whole  counfels  we  refufed,  whofe  go- 
verment  wc  caft  ofi'I  And  ftiall  net  tiie  faints,  with 
inconceivable  gladncfs,  cry  out,  Yonder  is  he  whofc 
blood  redeemed  us,  whofc  fpirit  clcwnfed  us  1  Yonder 
comes  he  in  whom  v/e  truftcd,  and  now  we  fee  he  hath 
not  deceived  our  truft  :  he  for  whom  we  long  waited, 
and  now  we  fee  we  have  not  waited  in  vain  1  O  hovr 
fhould  it  then  be  the  charafler  of  a  chriftian,  '*  To 
wait  for  the  Sen  of  God  from  heaven,  whom  he  raifed 
from  the  dead,  even  Jefus  which  delivered  us  from  the 
wrath  to  cornel"  I  ThclT.  i.  10.  And  with  all  faith- 
ful diligence,  to  prepare  to  meet  cur  Lord  with  joy. 
And  freing  his  coming  h  of  purpoie  to  be  glorified  in 
his  saints^  and  admirrd  in  ail  them  that  believe  ;  what 
thought  fhould  glad  our  hearts  more  than  the  tboughS 
of  that  day  ?  A  little  while  indeed  wc  have  not  seen 
him^  but  jet  a  little  while  and  ive  shall  see  hiniy  for  he 
hath  fairl,  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless.^  but  will 
come  unto  you.  We  were  comfortlefs  fliould  ke  not 
come.  And  while  we  daily  gaze  and  look  up  to  hea- 
ven after  bim.  let  us  remember  what  the  anjel  faid, 
"  This  fame  Jefus  which  is  taken  up  from  ycu  into  hea- 
ven, Ihall  come  in  .like  manner  as  ye  have  feen  liim^-o 


54  Tfic  Saints^  Evsrlci'^tlng  Rest, 

into  Iieaven."  Let  every  ciiriflian  that  liL^arech  and 
rsadeth,  fay,  Come  ;  and  our  Lord  l.lmLliTaith,  Surely^  I 
come  guick/jj    amen^  e'O.n  :o  cum-:',  Lord  Jjsus, 

The.recond  flrcam  that  leadeth  toparadife,  is  that 
r:reat  vrork  of  Jefus  Chrift,  in  raiPing  cur  bodices  from 
the  duft,  uniting  them  again  .unto  the  foul.  What, 
faith  the  atheift,  Oiall  all  thefe  fcattcVed  bones  and 
duft  become  a  man  ?  Thou  fool,  doft  thou  difput* 
againfi:  tlie  power  of  tl.e  Almighty  ?  Dofl  thou  ob. 
jeft  dimculties  to  infinite  ftrength  ?  Thou  blind  mole  ) 
thcu  little  piece  of  creeping,  breathing  clay  I  But 
come  tliy  way,  let  me  take  thee  by  the  hand,  and  with 
reverence  (as  E/ihuJ  plead  for  Gcjd  ;  and  for  tlirit 
power  whereby  I  hope  to  arifc.  Seeft  thou  this  greiife 
n}ariy  body  of  the  C£.rth  ?  up&n  what  foundation  doth 
it  fland  ?  Secft  thou  this  vaft  ocean  of  waters  ?  wluit 
limits  them,  and  why  do  they  not  overflow  and  drown 
the  earth  ?  v.'hcnce  is  that  conftant  ebbing  and  flow- 
ing of  her  tidv-'S  ?  wilt  thou  fay  from  the  moon,  or 
otlicr  pUncts  ?  and  whence  have  they  that  influence  ? 
Mufl  thou  not  come  to  a  caufe  of  caufes,  that  can  do 
all  thin^.;s  ?  And  doth  notieafon  rcijuire  thee,  to  con- 
ceive of  that  caufe  as  a  perfecl  intell-gence,  and  vo- 
luntary agent,  and  not  fuch  a  blind  worker  and  tnip.y 
notion  as  that  nothing  is,  v.hich  thou  cullefl:  nature  ? 
What  th'inkeft  tlicv  ?  Is  not  that  power  tible  to  eff^cl 
thy  rcfurrtclion,  which  doch  all  this?  Is  it  not  as  eafy 
to  raife  the  dead,  as  to  make  heaven  and  earth,  rnvJ 
all  cut  of  nothing  ?  But  if  thou  be  unperfuadable,  all 
I  fay  to  th^e  more  is  as  the  prophet  to  the  prince  of 
S.imaria,  2  Kings  vii.  19.  Thou  shalt  see  that  day  nvith 
thine  eyes^huX.  little  to  tliy  comfort  ;  for  that  which  is 
the  6ty  of  relief  to  the  faints,  fhall  be  a  day  of  re- 
venge on  thee. 

C  )me  then,  fellow-chrlRlans,  let  us  commit  thefe 
carcjifcL  to  the  duR  :  that  prifon  fliall  not  long  contain 
them.     Let  \:.%  lie  down  in  peace  *ind  take  ourreil :  it 


The  Saints'*  Ever  las  thig  JRest,  35 

Vill  not  be  an  everlaPiin^j  night,  or  endlefs  fl(  ep.  What 
if  we  go  out  of  the  ti  rubles  and  ftirs  of  tiic  world, 
ard "enter  into  tbofe  chambers  of  duft,  and  the  doors 
be  flnit  upon  us,  and  we  hide  ourfelves,  as  it  were, 
icr  a  little  moment  until  the  h.dignation  be  overpast  ? 
Tet^  behold  tJie  Lord  cometh  out  of  his  place  to  punish 
the  inhabitants  of  the  ear th  for  their  iniquity :  and  then 
the  enrth  (liall  dilclofe  us,  and  the  dufl  fliall  hide  uii' 
no  more.  As  lure  as  we  awake  in  the  morning-,  wlieii 
we  have  flept  cut  the  night,  fo  fure  fliall  w<;  the  it 
av/ake. 

Lay  dov/n  then  cheerfully  this  lump  of  ccrruptlcn  : 
thou  flialt  undoubtedly  receive  it  again  in  incorrup- 
tion  Lay  down  freely  this  terreftrial,  this  natural 
body  :  thou  (halt  receive  it  again  a  celeftial,  a  fpi- 
ritual  body.  Though  thou  lay  it  down  with  great 
difhonour,  thou  flialt  receive  it  in  glory:  and  though 
thou  art  feparated  from  it  through  weaknefs,  it  fluil 
be  raifed  again  in  mighty  power.  When  the  trumpet 
of  God  {ball  found  the  call,  Come  aivaj^  rise^je  dead  : 
""Who  fliall  then  flay  behind  ?  Who  can  refilt  the  pow- 
erful commar.d  of  our  Lord  ?  when  he  fliall  call  to 
the  earth  and  fea,  0  earthy  0  sea,  give  up  thy  dead: 
the  firft  that  fhall  be  called  are  the  faints  that  fleep  ; 
a"nd  then  the  faints  that  are  alive  fhall  be  changed. 
Per  "  they  which  are  alive,  and  remain  till  the  coming 
of  the  Lord,  fhall  not  prevent  them  which  arc  aileep. 
Tor  the  Lord  himfelf  fliall  defcend  from  heaven  with  a 
ihout,  with  the  voice  of  the  arch-angel,  and  with  the 
trump  of  God  ;  and  the  dead  in  Ghvifl:  fhall  rife  firfl. 
Then  they  which  are  alive  and  remain,  fliall  be  caught 
up  together  withthein  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air  ;  and  fo  fhall  we  ever  be  with  thi  Lord."  Tri- 
umph nov/,  O  chr'iflian  I  in  thefe  promifes  :  thou  flialt 
ftiortly  triumph  in  their  performance  ;  for  this  is  the 
day  that  the  l.ord  will  make  ;  JVe  shall  be  glad  and  re- 
Joicc  th^  rein.  The  grave  that  could  not  ke::p  our  Lord, 
siunat  keep  Uo  :    h«  arofe   for  ut,  and  by  the    fauae 


r 


S6  The  Saints^  Everlasthig  Rest, 

power  Nv'ill  caufe  us  to  arife.  For  if  ive  believe  that 
Jesus  died  and  rose  again  ;  even  so  them  also  ii'hich 
sleep  in  Jesus^  roiilGod  bring  with  him.  Therefore 
let  our  hearts  be  glad,  and  our  glory  rejoice,  and  our 
fleth  iilfo  reft  in  hope  :  for  he  will  not  leave  us  in  the 
grave,  nor  fuffer  us  ftill  to  fee  corruption.  Yea, ''  there- 
fore let  us  be  fledfafl:,  unmcveable,  always  abounding 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  for  as  much  as  \f  e  know  our 
labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord," 

The  third  part  of  this  prologue  to  the  faints*  reft, 
is  the  folemn  procefs  at  their  judgment,  where  thtfy 
fhall  fiift  themfelves  be  juftified  ;  and  then  with  Chrift 
judge  the  world.  All  the  world  muft  there  appear, 
young  and  old,  of  all  cftatcs  and  nations,  that  ever 
■were  from  the  creation  to  that  flay.  The  judgment 
fliall  be  fet,  and  the  books  opened,  and  the  book  of 
life  produced  :  "  and  the  dead  Ihall  be  judged  out  cfthofe 
things  which  were  written  in  the  books,  according  to 
their  works,  and  whoibever  is  not  found  written  in  the 
book  of  life,  is  caft  into  the  lake  of  fire."  O  terrible  1  O 
joyful  day  1  Terrible  to  thofe  that  have  not  watched, 
but  forgot  the  coming  of  their  Lord  1  Joyful  to  the 
faints,  whofe  waiting  and  hojx;  was  to  fee  this  day  I 
Thf  n  fliall  the  world  behold  the  goodnefs  and  feverity 
of  the  Lord  ;  on  them  who  perifli,  feverity  ;  but  t» 
Ills  chofen,  goodnefs.  When  every  one  muft  give  ac- 
count of  his  fteWardQiip  ;  and  every  talent  of  time, 
health,  wit,  mercies,  afiiiclion,  means,  warnings,  mull 
be  reckoned  for.  When  the  fins  of  youth,  and  thofe 
which  they  had  forgotten,  and  their  fecret  fins  fhall  be 
laid  open  before  angels  and  men:  when  they  ftiall  fee 
all  their  friends,  wealth,  old  delights,  all  their  confi- 
dence and  falTe  hopes  forlake  them.  When  they  fliall 
fee  the  Lord  Jefus  whom  they  neglected,  whofc  woitl 
they  dlfobeyed,  whofe  miniiters  they  abufed,  whofe 
fcrvants  they  hated,  now  fitting  to  judge  them  ;  v/hen 
their  own  confciences  fliall  cry  out  againft  them,  and 
call  to  their  remembrance  all  their  mifdoings,  Remem- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  37 

hz\\  at  fuch  a  time  fuch  or  fuch  a  {in  ;  at  fiich  a  time 
Chrift  fued  hard  for  thy  converfion  :  the  miniRer  prel- 
ied  it  home  to  thy  heart,  thou  waft  touched  to  the 
quick  with  the  word  ;  thou  didft  purpofe  and  prciniie 
returning,  and  y^t  thou  didft  caft  off  all.  O  which 
way  will  the  wretched  iinner  look  1  O  who  can  con- 
ceive the  thoughts  of  his  heart  1  New  the  world  can- 
not help  him  ;  his  old  companions  cannot  help  him  : 
the  faints  neither  can  nor  will ;  only  the  Lord  Jefus 
can  :  but  there  is  the  mifery,  he  will  not:  nay,  with- 
out violating  the  truth  of  his  word,  he  cannot  :  though 
otherwife,  in  regard  of  his  abfolute  power,  he  might. 
The  time  was,  iinner,  when  Ghrifc  would,  and  you 
-would  not  ;  and  now,  fain  would  you,  and  he  wilt 
not.  What  then  remains  but  to  cry  to  the  mountains, 
Fall  on  us  ;  and  the  hills,  cove?-  us  from  the  presence  of 
him  that  sits  upon  the  throne  J  But  all  in  vain  1  for  thoii 
haft  the  Lord  of  mountains  and  hills  for  thine  ene- 
my, whofe  voice  they  v/ill  obey,  and  not  thine.  Sin- 
ner, make  not  light  of  this;  for  as  thou  liveft  (ex- 
cept a  thorough  change  prevent  it)  thou  flialt  fliortly, 
to  thy  inconceivable  horror,  fee  that  day. 

Poor  carclefs  linnsr,  I  did  not  think  here  to  have 
faid  fo  much  to  thee  :  but  if  thefe  lines  fall  into  thy- 
hands,  "  I  charge  thee  before  God,  and  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  who  Ihall  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  ap- 
pearing, and  his  kingdom  ;"  that  thou  make  hafte  and 
get  alone,  and  fet  thylelf  fadly  to  ponder  thefe  things. 
Aik  thy  heart,  is  this  true,  or  is  it  not  ?  Is  there  fuch 
a  day,  and  muft  I  fee  it  ?  What  do  T  then  ?  Is  it  not 
time,  full  time,  that  I  had  made  fure  ©f  Chrift  and 
comfort  long  ago  I  Should  I  lit  till  another  day,  who 
jiave  loli:  i^o  many  ?  Friend,  I  profcfs  to  thee  from  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  that  of  all  thy  fwcst  fins,  there 
will  then  be  nothing  left,  but  the  fting  in  thy  confci- 
ence,  which  will  be  never  out  through  all  eternity. 
D 


38  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

But  wliy  trembled  thou,  O  gracious  foul  I  He  that 
■would  not  overlook  one  Lot  in  Sodom  ;  nay,  that  could 
do  nothing  till  he  went  forth  ;  will  he  forget  thee  at 
that  day  ?  "  Thy  Lord  knoweth  how  to  deliver  the  god- 
ly out  of  temptation,  and  to  referve  the  iinjufl  to  the  day 
of  judgmentto  bepunifhed  :"  he  knoweth  how  to  make 
the  fame  day  the  greateft  terror  to  his  foes,  and  yet 
the  greateft  joy  to  his  people.  "  There  is  n«  condem- 
nation to  them  that  are  in  Chrift  Jefus,  who  walk  not 
after  the  flefii,  but  after  the  Spirit.  And,  who  Ihall  lay 
any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God's  cleft  ?"  Shall  the 
law  ?  Why,  "  whatfoever  the  law  faith,  it  faith  to 
them  that  are  under  the  law  :  but  we  are  not  under 
the  law,  but  under  grace  :  for  the  law  of  the  fpirit  of 
life,  which  is  in  Chrift  Jefus,  hath  made  us  free  from 
the  law  of  fin  and  death."  Or  ftiall  confcience  ?  Wc 
were  long  ago  "  juftified  by  faith,  and  fo  have  peace 
with  God,  and  have  our  hearts  fprinkled  from  an  evil 
confcience  :  and  the  Spirit  bearing  witnefs  with  our 
fpirits,  that  we  are  the  children  of  God."  It  is  God 
that  juftifieth,  who  ftiall  condemn  ?  If  our  judge  con- 
demn us  not,  who  ftiall  ?  He  that  faid  to  the  adulte- 
rous woman,  "  Hath  no  man  condemned  thee  ?  Nei- 
ther do  I  condemn  thee  :"  He  will  fay  to  us,  (more 
faithfully  than  Peter  to  him)  ''  Though  all  men  deny 
thee,  or  condemn  thee,  I  will  net.  Thou  hnft  confei- 
fed  me  before  men,  and  I  will  coiifefsthce  before  my 
Father  and  the  angels  in  heaven.'* 

What  iHexprefllble  joy  may  this  aflford  a  believer? 
Our  dear  Lord  ftiall  be  our  judge.  Will  a  man  fear 
to  be  judged  by  his  deareft  friend,  by  a  brother,  by 
a  father,  or  a  wife  by  her  own  huft^and  ?  Did  he  come 
down,  and  fufter  and  weep,  and  bleed,  and  die  for 
thee  :  ami  will  he  now  condemn  thee  ?  Was  he  judg-^ 
ed  and  condemned,  and  executed  in  thy  ftead,  and 
now  will  he  condemn  thee  ?  Hath  it  coft  him  fo  dear 
to  fave  thee  ?  and  will  he  now  deftroy  thee  ?  Hath  he 
doue  the  moft  of  the  work  already,  in  juftifying,  pre»- 


The  Saints^  Evertast'mg  Rest,  39 

fevvlncj,  and  perfeding  thee  ?  and  will  he  now  vindo 
ail  again  ?  ()  what  an  unrcafonuble  fin  is  unbelief, 
ih.it  will  cl^arge  our  Lord  with  fuch  abfiirdities  I 
Well  then,  fellow-chriflians,  let  the  terror  of  that  day- 
be  ever  fo  great,  our  Lord  can  mean  no  ill  to  us 
in  all.  Let  it  make  the  devils  tremble  ;  and  the  wick- 
ed tremble  ;  but  it  fliall  make  us  leap  for  joy.  And 
\l  mud  needs  affe£l  us  deeply  with  the  fenfe  of  our 
mercy  and  happinels,  to  behold  the  contrary  condi- 
tion of  others.  To  fee  mod  of  the  world  tremble 
with  terror,  v/hile  we  triumph  with  joy  :  to  fee  them 
thrull  into  hell,  when  we  are  prcclaimcd  heirs  of  the 
kingdom  ;  to  fee  our  nelgh'oours  that  lived  in  the 
fame  towns,  came  to  the  fame  congregations,  dwelt 
in  the  fame  houfes,  and  v.cre  efteemed  more  honor- 
able in  the  world  than  ourielves  ;  now  fo  differenced 
from  us,  and  by  the  Searcher  of  hearts  eternally  fepa- 
rated.  This,  v/ith  the  great  n:iagniiicence  and  dread- 
fulnefs  o!f  the  day,  doth  the  apo'Ue  pathetically  ex- 
prefs,  in  2  'I'hef.  i.  6,  7,  8,  9,  10.  "•  It  is  a  righteous 
thing  with  God  to  recompenfe  tribulation  to  thcni  that 
trouble  you;  and  to  you  who  are  troubled,  reft  with 
us  ;  when  the  Lord  Jefus  Ihall  be  revealed  from  hea- 
ven with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming  fire,  taking  vea- 
geance  on  them  that  knov^  not  Gcd,  and  obey  not  the 
gofpelofour  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ;  who  fiiall  be  punifii- 
ed  with  everlafling  deHrucftion  from  the  prefence  of  th? 
Lord,  and  from  ihe  glory  of  his  power."  And  ncv/ 
is  not  here  enough  to  make  that  day  a  welcome  day> 
Slid  the  thought  cf  it  dclighttul  to  us  ?  But  yet  there 
is  more.  We  fliall  be  fo  far  from  tl>e  dread  of  that 
judgment,  that  ourfelves  Ihall  become  the  judges. 
Chrift  will  take  his  people,  as  it  were  into  commiliion 
wiih  him;  and  they  fiiall  fit  and  approve  his  righteous 
judgment. 

Do  yoy  not  knoiv  that  the  saints*  shall  Judge  the 
tvorld  ?  Naj^  Know  j on  not  that  nve  shall  judge  on- 
^i'ls  P    Surely,  v/ere    it    not   the   word  of  Chrlit  that 


/ 

<0  The  Saints^  E-jtrla.'^tJng  ^esi. 

fpeaks  it,  ti-.is  advancement  Avoulclfeem  incredible, yet 
rven  Enoch,  the  fever.th  from  Adam,  prcphefied  of 
this  ;  faying,  "  Behold  the  Lord  comelh  with  ten  thon- 
fcind  of  his  faints,  to  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and 
convince  all  that  arc  uugodly  amon,'^  them,  of  their 
ungodly  d^eds,  v/hicli  they  have  ungocilily  comniittcd  ; 
and  of  all  their  hard  fpeeches,  v.-hich  imgodly  fmntrs 
have  fpoken  againft  him."  Jude  14,  ice.  Thus  fh.ill 
the  faints  be  honored,  and  the  righteous  have  domi- 
nion in  the  v.zorning,  O  that  the  carelefs  world  were 
but  i:u'se  to  consider  this^  and  that  they  Kvould  re- 
member their  latter  end  !  That  they  v,  ould  be  now 
©f  the  fime  mind,  as  thty  will  be  when  they  fliall  fee 
the  <•  heavens  pafs  av/jy  v/ith  a  great  noLfe,  and  the 
eienunts  melt  with  fervent  heat;  the  earth  alfo,  and 
the  works  that  are  therein  be  burnt  up  :"  When  ail 
fiiall  be  on  fire  abaut  their  ears,  and  all  earthly  glrry 
confumed.  For  "  the  heavens,  and  the  earth  which 
srenov;,  by  x\\t  fame  word  are  kept  in  floie,  referved 
unto  fire  againfj  the  day  of  judgment,  and  perdition 
of  ungodly  men.  Seeing  then, all  thefc  things  fliall 
be  diflolved,  what  manner  of  perfons  ought  ye  to  be, 
in  all  holy  converfation  and  godlinefs  :  looking  for, 
and  haf\ing  to  the  coming  of  the  day  of  God:  where- 
in the  heavens  being  on  fire,  fliall  be  dilTolved,  and 
the  elements  mjlt  with  fervent  heat." 

The  fourth  antecedent  to  the  faints'  advancemcn: 
is,  their  folemn  coronation,  and  receiving  Into  the 
kingdom.  For  as  Clnift,  their  head,  is  anointed  b:)t/i 
king  and  prieR  :  fo  under  him  arc  liis  people  made 
unto  God  both  kings  and  prleRs  :  *'  To  reign,  and  to 
oiTcr  praiftrs  forever,"  Rev.  v.  10.  "  The  crown  of 
righteoiifnefs,  which  was  laid  up  for  them,  ihall  by 
the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  be  given  them  at  that 
day,"  2  Tim.  iv.  8.  "  They  have  been  fuithful  to 
the  dea'-h,  y.nd  therefore  (hall  receive  the  crown  of 
life  :"  and  according-  to  the  improvement  of  their  ta- 
lents here,  fo    (haU  their  ride  and  dignity  be  eidarg- 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest,  41 

ctl.  So  tiiPit  they  are  not  dignified  with  cinpty  titles, 
buc  real  do  n  nioi.s.  For  *'  Chrift  -svilltake  them  and 
let  them  down  with  liinilelf,  in  his  own  throne;  and 
will  give  them  power  over  the  nations,  even  as  he  re- 
ceived of  his  Father.  And  will  give  them  the  morn- 
ing ftar."  The  Lord  himfelf  will  give  them  polTeflion 
with  thefe  applauding  expreffions  ;  "  Well  done,  good 
and  f^.itihful  lervant,  thou  had  been  faithful  over  a 
few  things,  1  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things  ; 
•enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lo;d."  And  with  this 
folemn  and  blclTed  proclamation  fhall  he  enthrone 
them  ;  "  Come,  ye  blelfcd  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world."  Every  word  is  full  of  life  and  joy.  [Come,'] 
This  is  the  holding  forth  of  the  golden  fceptre  ;  to  war- 
rant our  approach  unto  this  glory.  Come  now  as  near 
as  you  will  ;  fear  not  the  Bethlhemitts  judgment :  for 
the  enmity  is  utterly  taken  away.  This  is^  not  fuch  a 
Come  as  we  were  wont  to  hear,  Come  take  iipyourcross^ 
and  follow  me:  though  that  wasfv/eet,  yet  this  is  much 
more  fo.  [11'  blessed']  Bleffed  indeed,  when  that  mouth 
fliall  fo  pronounce  us.  For  though  the  world  hath 
accounted  us  accurfed,  yet  certainly  thole  that  he  blef- 
feth  are  bleffed  :  and  thofe  whom  he  curfcth,  only  are 
curled:  and  his  blefiivig  fliall  not  be  revoked.  But 
he  hath  blelfed  us,  and  we  fiiall  be  bleffed.  [Of  my 
Father]  Blelied  in  the  Father's  love,  as  vvell  as  the 
Son's  :  for  they  are  one  :  the  Father  hath  tefiified  his 
love,  in  fending  Chrift  and  accepting  his  ranfom  ;  as  the 
Son  hath  alio  tefiified  his.  linherit]  No  longer  bond- 
men, nor  fervants  only,  nor  children  under  age,  who 
differ  not  inpoflcfuonf  but  only  in  the  title  from  fer- 
vants ;  but  now,  we  are  heirs  of  the  kingdom,  co-heirs 
with  Christ.  [The  kingdom]  No  lefs  than  the  king- 
dom 1  Indeed  to  be  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  •f  lords, 
is  our  Lord's  own  title  :  but  to  be  kings  and  reigu 
with  him,  is  ours  :  the  fruition  of  this  kingdom,  is 
as  the  fruition  ©f  the  light  of  the  fun,  each  hath  the 
D  2 


42  The  Saints''  EverlastinQ-  J^est 


\vlicl3,  and  t';c  red  never  the  !efo.  ^  Prepared  for  joul 
(jod  is  tlie  Alphn,  as  well  as  the  Omega  of  our  blcl- 
lednefs.  Eternal  love  hath  laid  the  foundation.  H* 
prepared  the  kingdom  for  us,  and  tlien  prepared  us 
for  the  kingdom.  'J'his  is  the  preparation  of  his 
counlel  :  for  the  execution  whereof  Chi  1ft  was  yet  to 
make  a  further  preparation.  \_For  yoxt']  Not  for  be- 
lievers only  in  general,  but  for  you  in  particular. 
\_FrOni  the  foundation  of  the  worhV]  Not  only  from  the 
promife  after  Adam's  fall,  but  from  eternity. 

But  a  difficulty  arifeth  in  our  way.  In  vvhat  fenfc 
is  our  ijnprovement  of  our  talent,  our  well-doing, 
our  overcoming,  our  harbouring,  vifiting,  feeding 
Chrift  in  his  little  ones,  alledged  rs  a  reafon  of  our 
coronation  and  glory?  Is  it  not  the  purch.afed  poiTef- 
fion,  and  mere  fruit  of  Chrift's  blood  ?  If  every  man 
mud  be  judged  according  to  his  works,  and  receive 
according  to  v/hat  he  has  done  in  the  flefh,  whe- 
ther good  or  evil  ;  if  God  nvill  render  to  every  man 
according  to  his  deeds, 'Rom,  ii.  6,  7.  and  give  eternal 
life  to  all  men,  if  they  patiently  continue  in  well  do- 
ing ;  if  he  will  give  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  Re^-c. 
y.xii.  14.  and  entrance  into  the  city,  to  the  doers  of 
his  commandments  :  and  ifthislaft  abfolving  fentence 
be  the  cor>:;pltting  of  our  juftification  ;  and  fo  the  do- 
ers of  the  laiu  be  justified,  Rom.  ii.  13.  then  what  is 
become  of  free  grace  ?  or  juftification  by  faith  oirly  ? 
of  the  fole  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift  to  make  us  accepted  ? 
I  anhver, 

1.  Let  not  the  names  of  men  drav'/  thee  one  Avay  or 
other,  nor  make  thee  partial  in  I'earchijig  for  the  truth  : 
dillike  the  men  for  their  uniourd  dodlrlnc  ;  but  call 
not  do6lrine  unfound,  becaufe  it  is  theirs  :  nor  found 
bccaufe  of  the  repute  of  the  writer. 

2.  Know  this,  that  as  an  nnhumbled  foul  is  far 
apter  to  give  too  much  to  duty  and  perfonal  righte- 


The  SainU'^  Evcrkif-tinz  Rest.  <S 


ei.fiiriV,  than  to  Chrift  ;  fo  an  lunvible  ftlf-df  nying- 
chriftiau  is  as  likely  to  err  on  the  other  liaiid,  in  gi\  - 
in/>-  Ids  to  duty  than  Chrifi:  hatli  given,  and  laylir^-  all 
the  ^vork  from  himfelf  on  Chiifl:,  for  fear  of  robbing- 
Chrift  of  the  honor  ;  and  fo  niiich  to  look  at  Chrifi 
M'ithoiit  him,  and  think  he  (hould  look  ai  nothing  in 
hiinfelf;   that  he  forgets  Chrift  within  him. 

3.  Our  giving  to  Chrift  more  of  tlie  work  than 
fcripture  dcih,  or  rather  our  afcribing  it  to  him  cut 
of  the  fcripture  vay,  doth  but  difiionor,  and  not 
honor  him  ;  and  deprefs,  but  not  exalt  his  free  grace  : 
%vhile  we  deny  the  inward  fanftlfying  -work  of  his 
Spirit,  and  extol  his  free  jnftification,  whicli  are  equal 
fruits  of  his  merit,  we  make  iiim  an  imperfect  Savi- 
our. 

A.  But  to  arrogate  to  ourfflves  any  part  of  Ch;  Ift's 
prerogative,  is  moft  defperate  of  all,  and  no  dcc\rine 
more  directly  overthrows  the  gofpel  almoft.  tharj  that 
of  juftification  by  the  merits  of  our  owuj  or  by  works 
of  the  law. 

And  thus  we  have  feen  the  chriftlan  fafe.ly  landed 
in  paradife  ;  and  conveyed  honorably  to  his  reft. 
Nov/ let  us  a  little  further  view  thofe  manfions,  con- 
fider  his  privileges,  and  fee  whether  there  be  any  glo- 
ry like  unto  this  glory. 


CHAP.     V. 

The  Excellencies  of  cur  Rest, 

LET  us  fee  mere  immediately  from  thf  pure  foun- 
tain of  the  fcriptures,   v/hat  further  excellencies 
this  reft  afTordcth.     And   the    Lord   hide   us   in    the 


•44  Hie  Saintii^  Everki^t'uio-  Rest, 


Ciffts  of  the  reck,  and  cover  us  with  the  hands  of  in- 
duigv-'iit  griLce,   while  \vc  approiich  to  take  this  view. 

And  firPr,  it  is  a  mofl  rmgnlar  honor  of  the  faints* 
rffl,  to  be  called  t\\c  purchased  possession  ;  that  it  is  the 
fruit  of  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  yea,  the  chief 
fruit  :  yea,  the  end  -ind  perieiTiiion  of  all  the  fruits  of 
tliat  blood.  Surely  iove  is  the  inofl  precious  ingredi- 
ent in  the  whole  cornpofition  ;  raid  of  all  the  flowers 
that  grow  in  the  garden  of  love,  can  there  be  brought 
one  more  fweet  than  thi^  blood  ?  Greater  love  thiU 
this  ther^  is  not,  to  l;iy  down  the  life  of  the  lover. 
And  to  have  this  our  Redeemer  ever  before  our  eyes, 
and  the  liveliefl  fen^'e  and  frefliell  remembrance  of  that 
dying  bleeding  love  (till  upon  our  fouls;  O  how  will 
it  fill  our  fouls  with  perpetual  ravilhments,  to  think 
tliatin  the  flreams  of  this  blood,  v/ehave  fv/um  through 
tiie  violence  of  the  world,  the  fnares  of  Satan,  the  fe- 
duccments  of  the  flefh,  the  curfe  of  the  law,  the  wrath 
of  an  offended  God,  the  accufations  oi:"  a  guilty  confci- 
ence,  and  the  doubts  and  fears  of  an  unbelieving  heart, 
and  are  paflVd  threugh  all,  and  arrived  fafely  at  the 
breaO:  of  God  1  Now  wc  are  flupified  with  vile  and 
fenfelefs  hearts,  that  can  hear  all  the  (lory  of  this  love, 
and  read  all  the  fufferings  of  love  ;  and  all  with  dul- 
iiefs,  and  unaffcclsdnefs.  Ke  cries  to  us,  Beheld  and 
see^  :s  it  nothing  toyouy  0  allyet  that  pass  by  ?  Is  there 
any  sorronv  like  unto  ray  sorrozv?  And  we  will  fcarce 
hear  or  regard  the  voice  ;  or  turn  afide  to  view  the 
wounds  of  him  who  healed  oi;r  wounds  at  fo  dear  a 
rate.  But  oh  !  then  our  perfc(^td  fouls  will  feel  as 
well  as  hear,  and  with  feeling  upprchenfions  flame  in 
love  for  love.  Now  we  fet  his  pic\ure  \Mounded  and 
dying  before  our  eyes,  but  can  get  it  no  nearer  our 
hearts,  than  if  we  believed  nothing  of  what  we  read. 
But  then  when  the  obllrudlions  between  the  eye  and 
the  underttanding  are  taken  away,  and  the  palTage 
opened  between  the  head  and  he.art,  furely  our  eyes 
iv'ill  everlaftingly  affect  our  hearts  I  And  while  v/e  view 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  45 

KV'ith  one  eye  our  flain  revived  Lord,  and  witli  the 
other  eve  our  loft  recovered  fouls,  theCe  views  will 
eternally  pierce  us,  and  v/arm  our  very  Ibuh.  And 
tb:)fe  eyes  through  which  folly  hath  Co  often  ftolen. 
into  our  hearts,  let  in  the  love  of  our  deareft  Lord 
for  ever. 

We  fliall  th.?n  leave  tliefe  licnrts  of  ft-ne  and  rock 
behind  us,  and  the  fin  that  here  fo  clofe  befctsus,  and 
the  fottifli  unkindncfs  that  followed  us  fo  Icnr^i  fliall 
not  be  able  to  follow  usintogloiy.  But  we  fiiall  be- 
hold, as  it  were,  the  wounds  of  love,  with  eyes  and 
hearts  of  love  for  ever.  Now  his  heart  is  Gp'--n  to  us, 
and  ours  flnit  to  him  :  but  wlien  his  heart  fliall  be 
open,  and  cur  hearts  open,  oh,  the  bleffcd  congrcfs 
that  will  then  be  I  What  a  pafTionate  meeting  is  there 
betweeiv  our  new-rifen  Lord,  and  the  firft  finful  wo- 
man thnt  he  appears  to  1  How  doth  love  ftrucgle  for 
exprefTicns  ?  and  the  Uraitfned  fire  flmt  up  in  the 
breaft,  Orive  to  break  forth  ?  Majy  !  faith  Chrift  : 
Iniister  t  fdith  Mary  :  and  prefently  Hie  clafps  about 
his  feet,  having-  her  hear  as  near  to  his  heart  as  her 
hands  v/ere  to  his  f<ret.  What  a  meeting  of  l©ve  then 
will  there  be,  between  the  newly  glorified  faints,  and 
the  glorious  R^^deemer  !  But  I  am  here  at  a  lofs,  i:.y 
apprcherifions  fall  me,  and  fall  too  fhort.  Only  th-s 
1  know,  it  will  be  the  lingular  praife  of  our  inheri- 
tance, that  it  was  bought  with  the  price  of  that  blood  ; 
and  the  fingular  joy  of  the  faints,  to  behold  the  pur- 
chafer  and  the  price,  together  with  the  poITefrion  : 
neither  will  the  vicv/s  of  the  v/ounds  of  love  r^fnc-.v 
our  wounds  or  forrow  :  he  v»'hofe  firft  words  after  Iiis 
refurreclicm  were  to  a  great  finner,  Wcman^  tvhy 
iveepest  thou  ?  knows  how  to  raife  love  and  joy  by  all 
thofe  viev/s,  without  raifing  any  cloud  of  forrov/.  W 
a  dying  friend  deliver  but  a  tuken  of  his  love,  how 
carefully  do  we  preferve  it  ?  and  ftiil  reir.t-mber  him 
v;hcn  we  Ixrhold  it,  as  if  his  own  name  v/ere  written 
an  it  ?   And  will  not  then  the  death  and  blood  of  our 


46  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

Lord  evcrliiQingly  fweeten  onr  pofTcfTecl  glory  ?  Well 
then,  chriftians,  as  you  ufe  to  do  in  your  becks,  and 
on  your  goods,  to  v/rite  down  the  price  they  ccft 
you  :  fa  on  your  righteoufnefs,  and  on  your  g]orv» 
Ivrite  down  the  price,  The  precious  blood  of  Christ 

Yet  underhand  this  rightly:  not  that  this  higheft 
glory  was  in  the  ftricleft  fenfe  purchafed,  lb  as  that 
it  was  the  mcft  immediate  efTec'c  of  ClirlR's  death  ;  we 
muft  take  heed  that  we  conceive  not  of  God  as  a  ty-- 
rant,  who  fo  delightcth  in  cruelty,  as  to  excliangc 
m:ircies  for  ftripes.  God  was  never  fo  pleafed  with 
the  fufferings  of  the  innocent,  much  lefs  of  his  Son, 
as  to  fell  his  mercy  properly  for  their  fuiferings.  But 
the  fuffciings  of  Chrifl:  were  piimarlly  and  immediate- 
ly  to  fatisfy  juftice,  and  to  bear  what  was  due  to  the 
finner,  and  fo  to  reflore  him  to  the  life  he  loll,  and 
the  happinefs  he  fell  from  :  but  this  dignity,  which 
furpaireth  the  flrfi:,  is  as  it  v/cre,  from  the  redundancy 
cf  his  merit,  or  a  ftcondary  fruit  of  his  death.  The 
\vork  of  his  redemption  fo  well  pleafed  the  Father, 
that  he  gave  him  power  to  advance  his  chofen  to  a 
higher  dignity  than  they  fell  froip  ;  and  to  give  them 
the  glory  which  was  given  to  himfelf  ;  and  all  this 
according  to  tlie  good  pleauire  cf  his  ov^n  will. 

2.  The  [tccwc  peer!  in  the  saivt:-'  diadem,  is,  that  it 
is  free.  This  feemeth  as  PharoaJi's  second  kine,  to  de- 
vour the  former.  But  the  feeming  difcord,  is  but  a 
pleafaig  diveriity  which  conditutes  the  melody.  Thtfe 
two  attributes  purchafed  and  free,  are  the  two  chains 
of  gold,  which  Uiake  up  the  wieath  for  the  heads  of 
the  pillars  in  the  temple  of  God.  It  was  dear  to 
ChriR,  but  free  to  us.  When  Chrift  was  to  buy,  Gi- 
ve; -nd  gokl  were  nc thing  v/orth  ;  prayers  and  tejirs 
coi,,(i  net  fiiiHce  ;  nor  any  thing  below  his  blood  ; 
biu  when  we  come  to  buy,  our  buying  is  but  receiv- 
ing; ;  we  liave  it  freely,  without  mcney  and  iviihout 
price,     N'or  do  the  gofpel-condltions  make  it  the  lefjs 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest.  Art 


a 


free  ;    if  the    golpel-conditiQus  had  been  fiich    as  are 
the   laws,  or  payment  of   the    debt    required     at   our 
hands  ;    the    freenefs,    then  were    more    questionable. 
Yea,  if  God  had  faid  to  us,  "  Sinner,    if  you  \\\\\  fatisfy 
my  juftice  for  one  of  your  fins,  I  will  forgive  you  all  the 
reft,"  it  would  have  been  a  hard  condition  on  our  part, 
and  the  grace  of  the  covenant  not  fo  free,  as  ourdif- 
ability  doth  require.     But  if  all  the  condition  be  our 
cordial  acceptation,  furely  we    dcferve  not  the    name 
of  purchafers.  Thankfully  accepting  of  a  free  acquit- 
tance, is  no  paying  of  the  debt.      If  life  be  offered  to 
a  condemned  man,  upon  condition  that  he    fiiall    not 
refufe  the  offer,  the  favour  is  neverthelefs  free.     Nay, 
though  the  condition  were,  that  he   ftiould  beg,    and 
wait  before  he  have  his  pardon,    and  take  him  for  his 
Lord  who   hath  thus  redeemed  him,  this    is  no    fatis- 
fying  the  juftice  of  the  law  :  efpecially  when  the  con- 
dition is    alio  given  by  God  ;    furely  then    here  is   all 
free  :  if  the  Father  freely  give  the  Son,    and  the  Son 
freely    pay  the  debt  ;  and  if  God   freely  accept  that 
way  of  payment,  when  he  might  have    required  it   of 
the  principal  ;  and  if  both  Father  and  Son  freely  offer 
us  the  purchafed  life  upon  thofe  fair  conditions  ;  and  if 
they  alio  freely  fend  the  fpirit  to  enable  us  to  perform 
thofe  conditions,  then  what  is  here,  that  is  not  free  ? 
O  the  cverlaiting  admiration  that  asuil  needs   furprifc 
the  faints  to  think    of  this  freenefs  !      What  did  the 
Lord  fee  in  me,    that  he  Qiould   judge  me  m-cet  for 
fuch  a  ftate  ?   that   I    who  was    but  a    poor,    deipifed 
wretch,  fhould  be  clad  in  the  brightnefs  of  this  glory? 
that  I,  ?-  iilly,  creeping  worm,  fliould  be  advanced  to 
this  high  dignity  ?    He  that  durft  not  lift  up  his  eyes 
to  heaven,  but  ftood  afar  off  fmiting  his    breafl,  and 
crying,  Lord,  6e  mercijul  to  me  a  sinner  !  now  to    be 
lifted   up  to  heaven   himfelf  !      He  who  was  wont    to 
write  his  name  in  Bradford's  ftyle,  the  unthankful^  the 
hard-hearted^    the  unworthy  sinner  I  3.nd  was  wont  to 
admire    that  patience  could  bear  fo  long,  and  juflice 
fuffi:r  hitti  to  live  :  fare  he  will  admire  at  this  altera- 


48  The  ScuntiP  Everlasting  Rest, 

tlon,  \vhf:n  he  fliallfind  by  experience,  that  unworthl- 
nefs  could  not  hinder  l)is  falvation,  which  he  thought 
Avould    have    bereaved    him    of  every    mercy.     Ah  I 
chriflian,  there   is    no    talk  of  our  nvorthinels  or  un- 
v.-orthinefs.     If  "worthinefs  were  our  condition  for  ad- 
mittance,  we  might  fit  down  with  St.  John,  and  weep, 
**  BecRufe  none  in  heaven  or  on  earth  is  found  worthy. 
But  the  lien  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  isAvorthy,  and  hath 
prevailed  ;  and  by  that  title  mull  we  hold  the  inheri- 
tance." We  Ihall  offer  there  the  offering  that  David  re- 
fuiVd,  exi  en  praise  for  that  which  cost  us  nothing.  Here 
our  commiffion    Ywm^  freelj/  ye  hcvoe  recci'ned^  freely 
f^ive.  But  Chrifl  hath  dearly  received,  yet  freely  gives. 
Yet  this  is  not  all.   If  it  wereonly  fornothing,  andwith- 
out  our  merit,  the  wonder  Avere  great :  but  it  is  more- 
over   againfl    our  merit,  and  againfl  our  long  endea- 
vouring our  own  ruin.     The  broken  heart  that  hath 
known  the  defert  of  fin,  doth  both  uuderftand  and  feel 
what  I  fay.     What  an  aftonilhing  thought  it  will  be, 
to  think  of  the  unmeafurable  difference  between  our 
defervings,  and  our  receivings  1  between  the  ilate  we 
Ihould  have  been  in,  and  the  ftate  we  are  in  !  to  look 
down  upon  hell,   and  fee  the  vail  difference  that  free 
grace  hath  made  betwixt  ua  and  them  !  to  fee  the  in- 
heritance there,  which  we  were  born  to,  fo  different 
from  that  which  we  are  adopted  to  1  Oh  !  what  pangs 
of  love  will  it  caufe  within  us,  to  think,  yonder  was 
the  place  that  fin  would  have  brought  me  to  ;   but  this 
is  it  that  Chrill:  hath  brought  me  to  !   Yonder  death 
was  the  wages  of  my  fin  ;   but  this  eternal  life  is  the 
giftofGody  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord,     Doubt- 
lefs    this    will  be    our    evcrlafting    admiration,    that 
fo    rich  a    crown    (hould  fit  the    head   of  fo    vile    a 
fmner  1   tkat  fuch    high  advancement,    and  fucli  long 
unfruitfulnefs  and  unkindnefs  can  be  the  ftate  of  the 
fame  perfons  !  and  that  fuch  vile  rebellions  can  con- 
clude in  fuch  moft  precious  joys  1'    But  no  thanks  to 
us  ;  nor  to  any  of  our  duties  and   labours,    much  lefs 
1?o  our  neglects  and  lazincfs  ;  we  know  to  whom  the 


The  Saints^  Ever  last  nig  JRest.  49 

%. 
praifc  is  due,  and  mnft  be  given  for  ever.  And  in- 
deed to  this  very  end  it  was,  that  infinite  wifdom  did 
caft  the  whole  defign  of  man's  falvation  into  the 
mould  of  PURCHASE  and  FREENESS,  that  the 
love  and  joy  of  man  might  be  perfe6Led,  and  the  ho- 
nor of  grace  moft  highly  ?.dvanced  :  that  the  thought 
(jf  merit  might  neither  cloud  the  one,  nor  obflrudl  the 
other  ;  and  that  on  thefe  two  hinges  the  gat-s  of  hea- 
ven might  turn.  So  then  let  [DESERVED]  be 
written  on  the  door  ofhtlU  but  on  the  door  of  hea» 
x(u  and  life,  [THE  FREE  GIFT.] 

A  third  comfortable  adjun^  of  thls.reft  is,  that  it 
is  the  fellow fhip  of  the  blelfed  faints  and  angels  of 
God.  Not  fo  fingular  will  the  chriflian  be,  as  to  be 
folitary.  Though  it  be  proper  to  the  faints  only,  yet 
is  it  common  to  all  the  faints.  For  what  is  it,  but 
an  alTociation  of  blelTed  fpirits  in  God  ?  A  corpora- 
tion of  perfected  faints,  whereof  Chrifl:  is  the  head  ? 
The  communion  of  faints  compleated  ?  For  thofe  that 
have  prayed  and  fafted,  and  wept,  and  watched,  and 
waited  together  ;  now  to  enjoy,  and  praifj  together, 
niethinks  lliould  much  advance  their  pleafure.  He 
w;ho  mentioneth  the  qualifications  of  our  happinefs, 
of  purpofe  that  our  joy  may  be  full,  and  maketli  fo 
oft  mention  of  our  conjun6lion  in  his  praifcs,  furc 
doth  hereby  intimate  to  us,  that  this  w  ill  be  fome  ad- 
vantage to  our  joys.  Certain  I  am  of  this,  f;llow- 
chriftians,  that  as  we  have  been  together  in  labour, 
duty,  danger  and  diJlrcis,  fo  fhall  we  be  in  thv*  great 
recompenfe  ;  and  as  we  have  been  fcorned  and  deipi- 
fed,  fo  fhall  we  be  crowned  and  honored  together; 
and  we  who  have  gone  through  the  day  of  fadnefs, 
fhall  enjoy  together  that  day  of  gladnefs.  And  thofe 
who  have  been  with  us  in  ptrfecutlon  and  priion,  fliall 
be  wiili  us  alfo  in  that  place  of  confolation.  When  I 
lock  in  the  faces  of  the  people  of  God,  and  belicv- 
ingly  think  of  this  day,  what  a  refrefliing  thought  is 
E 


iO  The  Sii'nUy  Ever  last  in^r  J^ciit. 

It  :  Shall  ^ve  not  there  remember  our  fdlowlliip  in 
duty  and  in  fii iTc ri n t^s  ?  Kow  oft  our  groans  made 
as  it  were  one  found,  our  tears  but  one  Ibcam,  and 
our  dcfires  but  one  prayer  ?  And  mow  all  our  praifts 
iliall  make  up  one  melcdy  :  and  all  our  churches  one 
churcii  ;^  and  all  ouifelves  but  one  body  :  for  we  fhall 
be  one  in  Clirilh  even  as  he  and  the  Father  are  one. 
It  is  true,  we  muR  be  vejy  careful  that  we  look  not 
for  that  in  the  faints,  which  is  alone  in  Chrift,  and 
tliat  we  give  theni  not  his  prerogative  ;  nor  expeft 
too  great  a  part  of  our  comfort  in  the  fruition  of  them  : 
we  are  prone  enough  to  this  kind  of  idolatry.  But 
yet  he  who  commands  us  fo  to  love  them  now,  will 
give  us  leave  \n  LJie  fame  fubordination  to  himfelf  to 
love  them  then,  when  himfelf  hath  made  them  much 
mere  lovely.  .And  if  we  may  love  tlicm,  we  fjiall 
furely  rejoice  in  them  ;  for  love  cannot  ftand  without 
an  anfvverable  joy.  If  the  forethought  of  fitting  down 
with  Abrrham,  Ifaac,  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets  in 
the  kingdom  of  God,  may  be  our  lawful  joy;  then 
how  mucli  n:ore  that  real  fight,  and  adurJ  poft'effion  ! 
It  cannct  chocfc  but  be  comfortable  to  me  to  think* 
of  that  day,  wlien  I  Iliall  join  with  Mofes  in  his  fong, 
with  David  in  his  pfalms  of  praife,  and  with  all  the 
redeemed  in  the  song  of  t}ie  Lamb  for  ever.  When  we 
Ihall  fee  Enoch  walking  with  God  ;  Noah  enjoying 
the  end  of  his  fingularily  ;  Jofeph  of  his  integrity  ; 
J(»b  of  his  patience  ;  Hezt  kiali  of  his  uprightnefs  ;  and 
all  the  faiiiti5,  the  end  of  their  faith.  O  happy  day, 
when  I  fliall  depart  out  oftl.is  crowd  and  fink,  and  go 
to  that  fame  council  of  fouls  1  I  know  that  Chriit  is 
All  in  All,  and  that  it  is  the  prefence  of  God  that 
m.aketh  hcaveji  to  be  heaven.  But  yet  it  m.uch  fweet- 
cneth  the  thoughts  of  that  place  tome,  to  remember 
that  there  are  fuch  a  multitude  of  my  moll  d«ar  and 
precious  friends  in  Chi  ill  ;  nvith  nvhom  I  took  stveet 
ccunsely  and  ivitJi  ivhom  IiucKt  up  to  the  house  of  God^ 
•uhj  nvalh'd  nvith  me  in  the  fear  ofGod^  and  integrity 
of  ihcir   hearts  ;   In  the  face  of  v/hofe  coaverfation 


The  Saints'  E-ocvlastlng  Reit.  51 

there  was  written  the  name  of  Chrlft  :  whcfe  fenuble 
mention  of  his  excellencies  hath  made  my  hjart  to 
burn  within  mf.-.  To  think  fuch  a  friend  that  died 
atfucha  time,  and  fuch  a  one  at  another  time,  and 
that  all  thefe  are  entered  into  reil:  ;  and  we  fliall  fure- 
!v  cro  to  them.     It  is  a  quedion  with  fouic,  Wheth:-r 


we  fhall  know  each  other  in  heaven  or  no  ?  Surelv, 
there  fliall  no  knowled^-e  ccaie  which  now  we  have  ; 
but  oiily  that  which  impli^^th  our  imperf-ction.  And 
what  imperfedion  c:;n  this  imply  ?  Nay,  o-jr  pr?fent 
knovvkd--e  Ih'.iH  be  incrcafed  btVvMiu  belief:  it  ihdU 
indeed  be  done  av/ay,  but  as  tlve  lig'ht  of  thenars  is  dona 
-v.  ay  by  the  riGng  of  the  fun  ;  wr.ich  is  more  proper- 
ly doing'  away  our  igmoraace  than  our  knov.'led_,e  ; 
indeed  we  (liall  not  know  each  other  afcer  the  fiefti  ; 
but  by  the  image  of  Ghrift,  and  fpiritual  rel^itioi^ 
and  former  faithfulnt- fs  in  improving  cur  tahnts,  bu- 
vond  doubt,  we  fliali  know  and  be  known.  Nor  is 
it  only  our  old  acquaintancf,  but  all  the  faints  cf  all 
ages,  whole  faces  in  the  fleOi  we  never  fdW,  who.n 
we  ihall  there  both  know  and  comfortably  enjoy. 
Yea,  and  anjels  as  well  as  faints  vili  be  our  blwTcd 
acquaintance.  Thofe  who  now  are  willingly  mini- 
lljrial  fpirits  for  our  good,  will  willingly  then  be  our 
companions  in  joy  for  the  perfecting  of-  our  good  :  and 
they  who  had  fuch  joy  in  heaven  for  our  converfion, 
will  gladly  rejoice  with  us  in  our  glorification.  I 
think,  chriliian,  this  will  be  a  more  honorable  alTem- 
bly  than  ever  you  have  birh.-ld  ;  and  a  more  happy 
foclety  than  you  were  ever  of  before.  Then  we  Ihall 
truly  lay  as  David,  '^  1  am  a  companion  of  all  them  that 
fear  th;:e  :  when  wc  are  tome  to  mount  Sion,  and  to  the 
city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  and  to 
an  innumerable  company  of  angeis  ;  to  the  general  aflVm- 
bly,  and  church  of  the  nrft  born,  which  are  written  in 
heaven,  and  to  G(jd  the  judge  of  all,  and  to  the  fpirits 
of  ju[l  men  made  pcrfe<ft,  and  to  Jefus  the  mediator  of 
tlie  new  covenant."  So  then  I  conclude  :  This  is  one 
fingular  cxc.'Il^ncy  of  the  reft  ?f  heav.n.     '^  That  vc 


52  Thi;  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest^ 

-    '  fello'A^-c'itizcns  with  the  fr/mts,  and  of  tne  houiV- 
hoidofCod." 

'.  Another  excellent  property  of  our  rcfl  will  he, 
;  „:  the  jcys  of  it  are  imniediatvly  from  God.  We 
shall  seeGcd  face  to  face  ;  and  Hiand  continually  in  his 
prefer ce  ;  and  confequently  derive  our  life  and  coni- 
ibrt  immediately  from  hinu  Whether  God  -will 
jnake  ulc  of  any  creatures  for  our  fervice  then;  or  if 
any,  of  what  creatures,  and  what  ufe  ;  is  more  than 
I  yet  know  :  but  it  is  cirtain,  that  at  leaf!:,  our  great- 
efl  joys  will  be  immediate,  if  not  vli.  Now  we  have 
nothing  at  ail  imujediatcly,  but  at  the  ftcond  or  third 
hund,  or  how  many  who  knovv's  ?  From  the  earth, 
f»om  man,  from  the  fun  and  moon,  from  the  inilu- 
ence  of  thii  planets,  from  the  miniftratioi  of  angels, 
and  from  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl ;  and  douhtlefs,  the  far- 
ther the  ftream  runs  from  the  fountain,  the  more  im- 
pure it  is.  Itgathers  feme  defilement  from  every  un- 
clean diannel  it  paffcth  through.  Though  it  favours 
iiot  in  the  hand  of  angels,  of  the  imperfeolion  of  tin- 
ners, yet  it  doth  of  the  imperfeclioAi  of  creatures  ;  and 
as  it  comes  from  man,  it  faveurs  of  both.  How 
c^iiick  and  piercing  is  the  word  in  itfclf  I  Yet  many 
limes  it  never  enters,  beting  managed  by  a  feeble  arm. 
O  what  weight  and  worth  is  there  in  every  pafiage  of 
the  bitff-d  gofpel  I  enough,  one  would  think,  to  en- 
ter and  force  the  dullefl  fcul,  and  wholly  pofiefs  its 
thoughts  and  afleftlons  :  F.nd  yet  how  oft  doth  it  drop 
:is  water  upon  a  Rone  ?  The  things  of  God  which  wc 
handle,  are  divine:  but  our  manner  of  handling  is 
human  :  and  there  is  little  or  none  that  ever  we  touch, 
but  we  leave  the  print  of  our  fingers  behind  u.s;  but 
if  God  fiiould  fpcak  this  word  himfelf,  it  would  be  a 
,<\..  -r ,,—  i-ft^.Iting  word  iiideed. 

j-i  .;  i  Jiiigel  from  heaven  fliould  preach  the  gofpel, 
yet  could  he  not  deliver  it  according  to  its  glory  ; 
fauch  lets  v;*  who  r.tvf  r  law  wh:at  they  have  fcen,  an^ 


Tlie  Sainta'*  Evcrlat-fhig  JRc6f,  53 

Veep  this  tieafure  in  earthen  vclTels.  The  comforts 
th.it  flow  tliroiigh  fernions,  iacramtnts,  reading,  con- 
ference, and  creatures,  are  but  half  comforts  :  in  con:- 
parifon  of  thofe  which  the  Almighty  (liallfpeak  with 
liiF  own  mouth,  and  reach  forth  wi*.h  his  o^vn  hand. 
The  Chriftian  knows  by  experience  now,  that  his  mod 
immediate  joys  arc  hisfweeteft  joys  ;  wliich  have  leaft 
of  man,  and  are  nioft  dire£lly  from  the  Spirit.  That 
is  one  reafon,  I  conceive,  wh.y  chriftians  who  are 
much  in  fee  ret  prayer  and  meditation,  are  men  tf 
greateft  life  ;  becaufe  they  are  nearer  the  well-head, 
and  have  all  more  innntd^ately  from  God  hinjfelf. 
And  that  I  conceive  the  only  reafon,  why  we  are  mere 
indifpofed  to  thofe  fccrct  duties,  and  can  eafier  bring 
our  hearts  to  hear  and  read,  than  to  fecret  prayer, 
fclf-txamination  and  meditation  ;  becaufe  in  the  for- 
mer is  more  of  man,  and  in  thefe  v.e  approach  tl;e 
Lord  alone,  and  our  natures  draw  feack  from  tl." 
mofl  fpirirual  duties.  Noi:  that  we  fiiould  therefore 
caft  off  the  other,  and  neglecV  any  ovdinar.cc  of  God  ; 
to  live  above  them  while  we  ufe  them,  is  tr.e  v.'av  of, 
a  chriftian.  But  to  live  above  ordinances,  fc  as  to  live 
without  them,  is  to  live  wiihout  the  government  tf 
Chrift.  It  is  then  we  (hall  have  light  without  a  can- 
die  ;  and  a  perpetual  day  without  the  fun  :  "  Fortl.e 
city  hath  no  need  of  the  fun,  neither  of  the  moon  to 
fiiine  in  it  ;  for  the  glory  of  God  doth  lighten  it,  ai.d 
the  Lamb  is  the  li^ht  thereof,"  Rev.  xxi.  2  3.  Nay, 
*'  There  fnall  be  no  light  there,  and  they  need  no  candle, 
nor  light  of  the  fun,  for  the  Loid  God  giveth  them 
light,  and  tht-y  fliall  reign  for  ever  and  ever."  We  Iliall 
then  have  rell  without  fieep,  and  be  kept  from  cold 
without  our  cloathing,  and  need  no  fig-leaves  to  hide 
cur  nrame-  :  for  God  will  be  our  reft,  and  Chrift  our 
cloathing,  and  fhame  and  fin  v/ill  ceafc  together. 
We  ihall  then  have  health  without  phyfic,  and  flr-ngth 
without  the  ufe  of  food  ;  for  the  Lord  God  will  be 
our  ftrength,  and  the  light  of  his  countenance  will  be 
health  to  our  fouls^  and  marrow  to  cur  bcnes.  Wc 
E  2 


5<  The  Saints^  EverlaHtng  Rest, 

fhall  then  (and  never  clll  then)  havecnliglitened  luuler- 
flandings  without  fc.ipture,  and  be  governed  wltl)- 
oi:C  a  written  law.  For  the  Lord  will  perfed  his 
lav.'  in  our  hearts,  and  we  fnali  be  all  perfecliy  taught 
of  God  :  hii  own  will  fhall  be  our  law,  and  his  own 
face  fliall  be  our  light  for  ever.  V/e  fliill  then  havt; 
communion  without  facrameuts,  when  Chrifl  ihall 
drink  with  us  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine  new,  that  is,  re- 
frefli  us  with  the  comforting  wine  of  immediate  frui- 
tion in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father. 

5.  A  further  excellency  of  this  reft  Is  this  ;  It  will 
Ilea  fultable  reft  :  fuited,  I.  to  our  natures.  2.  tp 
•  ur  defires.     3.     to  our  neceftities. 

1.  To  our  natures.  If  fuitablenefs  concur  not  with 
■excellency,  the  beft  things  may  be  bad  to  us  ;  for  it 
is  not  that  which  makes  things  good  in  themfclves, 
to  be  good  to  us.  In  our  choice  of  friends,  we  oft 
pafs  by  the  more  excellent,  to  choofe  the  more  fulta- 
ble :  every  good  agrees  not  with  every  nature.  TYxc 
choiceft  dainties  which  we  feed  upon  ourfelvcs,  would 
be  to  our  beafts,  as  an  unpleafing,  fo  an  infufiicient 
fuftenance. 

Now  here  is  fuitablenefs  and  excellency  conjoined. 
The  new  nature  of  the  faints  doth  fuit  their  fpirltsto 
Ibis  reft  :  and  Indeed  "their  holincfs  is  nothing  elle  but 
a  fpark  taken  from  this  element,  and  by  the  Iplrit  of 
Chrift  kindled  in  their  hearts,  the  flame  whereof,  as 
aiindful  of  its  divine  original,  doth  ever  mount  aloft, 
UntX  tend  to  the  place  from  whence  it  comes.  Gold  and 
earthly  glory,  tempered  crownrj  and  kingdoms,  could 
iiot  make  a  reft  for  faints.  A^  they  were  not  redeem- 
ed with  fo  lov/  a  price,  fo  neither  arc  they  endued 
■with  fo  low  a  nature.  As  God  will  have  from  them 
a  fpi ritual  v/crlhip,  fultable  to  his  own  fplritual  be- 
ing :  fo  will  he  provide  them  a  fpiritual  reft,  fultable 
to  bio  people's  fpiritual  nature. 


The  Sainta'  Everlasting  Rest.  35 

A  heaven  cf  the  kno\vleci;je  of  God,  and  his  Chrift  : 
and  a  delightfiii  complacency  in  that  mutual  love,  and 
cverlaiiing  rejoicinj?;  in  the  fruition  of  our  God,  a 
perpL'tual  fingirgcfhis  liigli  praiits  :  this  is  a  heaven 
f'orafiiint  :  a  ipiritual  reft,  fuitable  to  a  fpiritual  na- 
ture. Then  we  fliull  live  in  our  element.  We  arc 
how  as  the  tiDi  in  fome  fni.dl  velTel  of  water,  that 
hath  only  fo  much  as  will  keep  him  alive  :  but  what 
Is  that  to  the  fail  ocean  ?  We  have  a  lictle  air  let  into 
us  to  afford  us  breathing  :  but  what  is  that  to  the 
fwett  and  frefli  gales  upon  mount  Sion  ?  We  haVe  a 
beam  of  the  fun  to  lighten  our  darknefs,  and  a  warm 
ray  to  keep  us  from  freezing:  but  thtii  we  (h^ll  live 
in  its  light,  and  be  revived  by  its  heat  for  cvtr. 

2.  It  is  fuitable  to  the  defires  cf  the  faints  :  for 
fuch  as  is  their  nature,  fuch  are  their  defues  ;  and 
fuch  as  their  defires,  fuch  will  be  their  reft.  Indeed 
we  have  now  a  mixed  nature  ;  and  from  contrary  prin- 
ciples, arife  contrary  defires.  But  it  is  the  defires  of 
our  renewed  natuie,  which  this  rell;  is  fulted  to. 
Whilllour  defires  remain  corrupt  and  mifguidtd,  it  is 
a  far  greater  mercy  to  deny,  yea,  to  dcftroy  them, 
than  to  fatisfy  them  :  but  thofe  which  are  fpintual, 
are  of  his  own  planting,  and  he  Avill  furely  water 
them,  and  give  the  increafe.  Ke  quickened  our  hun- 
ger aj^d  thirft  for  righteoufnefs,  that  he  might  make 
us  happy  in  a  full  fatisfaction. 

Chriftian,  this  is  a  reft  after  thy  owh  heart  :  it  con- 
taineth  all  that  thy  heart  can  wifii,  that  which  thou 
Icngeft  for,  prayeft  for,  laboureft  for,  there  thou  fnalt 
find  it  all.  Thou  hadft  rather  have  God  in  Chrift, 
than  all  the  world  :  why  there  thou  Ihalt  have  h'.in, 
pefire  what  thou  canft,  and  aflc  what  thou  wilt,  as  a 
c4iriftian,  and  it  ftiall  be  given  thee  :  not  only  to  half 
of  the  kingdom,  but  to  the  enjoyment  of  both  king- 
dom and  king.  This  is  a  life  of  delire  and  prayer  i 
but  that  is  a  life  of  fatisfadion  and  enjoyment. 


56  The  Saints^  tvcrlaijting  Rest, 

3.  This  r-Il  Is  fuitable  to  tli?  faints'  uecefFities  alfo, 
as  well  as  to  their  natures  and  dLfires.  It  contains 
■wha!;{o>rver  they  truly  Avanted  :  not  fupv lying  thtm 
M'ith  grofs  created  comforts,  which,  like  Saul's  ar- 
mour on  David,  are  more  burden  than  benefit  :  but 
thry  fhall  there  have  the  benefit  without  the  burden  : 
and  the  pure  fpirits  extracted  (as  it  were)  flmll  make 
lip  their  coidial,  without  the  mixture  of  any  drcfTy 
or  earthly  fuoRance.  It  was  Chrift  and  perfeft  holi- 
ncfs,  which  they  moft  needed,  and  with  thtfe  fliall 
they  be  fupp^ied, 

4. .Another -excellency  of  our  refl  will  be  this,  that 
it  will  be  abfoiutely  perfect  and  complete  ;  and  this 
both  in  the  fmcerity  and  univerfality  of  it.  We  fliall 
then  have  joy  without  forrow,  and  reft  without  wea- 
rincfs  :  as  there  is  no  mixture  of  our  corruption  with 
oar  graces,  fo  no  mixture  of  fuffe rings  with  our  fc- 
lucc  :  there  is  none  of  thefe  waves  in  that  harbour, 
which  now  tofs  us  up  and  down.  To-day  we  are 
well,  to-morrow  fick  :  to-day  in  efteem,  to-morrow 
in  difgrace  ;  to-day  we  have  iriends,  to-morrow  none  : 
n?v,  we  have  wine  and  vinegar  in  the  fame  cup.  If 
revflation  fliould  raife  us  up  to  the  third  heavep,,  the 
melTcnger  of  Satan  muftprcfcntly  buffet  us  :  but  there 
is  none  of  this  inconflahcy  in  heaven.  If  perfe(fl  love 
caft:  out  fear  ;  then  perfed^  joy  muft  needs  caft  out  for- 
row, and  pcrfe(St  happinefs  exclude  all  the  velicks  of 
mifery.  There  will  be  an  univcrfal  perfedling  of  all 
cur  parts  and  powers,  and  an  univerfal  renioval  of  all 
our  evils.  And  though  the  pofitive  part  be  the  fweet- 
eft,  and  that  which  dr.nvs  the  other  after  it,  even  as 
the  rifmg'  of  the  fun  excludes  the  darknefs,  yet  is  not 
the  negative  part  to  be  flighted,  even  our  freedom 
from  fo  many  and  great  calamaties.  Let  us  therefore 
look  over  thefe  more  pujidlu^illy,  and  fee  what  it  is  we 
ftiall  thc-re  reft  from.  In  giheral,  it  is  from  all  cv.l. 
Pdrtlcuiarly  //rit,  from  fu.     Secondly ^  fu£*enng. 


ThB  Sainta^  Ever  las  ting  Rest,  57 

First,  It  excludeth  nothing  more  dlreftly  than  fin  : 
>\1iethcr  ovig'uKil,  atid  ot*  nature  ;  or  actual,  and  of 
convcrfalldn  ;  for  there  enter eth  nothing  that  dejilcth, 
nor  that  luorketh  abomlnatio7i^  nor  thai  makcth  a  lie. 
What  net-d  Chrift  have  died,  if  heaven  could  have 
contained  inipevfctt  fouls  ?  For  to  this  end  came  hs  into 
the  vjorld^  that  he  might  put  atvaj  the  works  of  the  de- 
vil. His  blood  and  fpirit  have  not  done  all  this,  to 
leave  us  after  all,  defiled.  For  vjhat  communicn  hath 
light  with  darkness?  Andwliatfellovj  ship  hath  Christ 
TJith  Belial  ?  He  that  hath  prepared  lor  fin  the  tor- 
ments of  hell,  Avill  never  admit  it  into  the  bJelTednefs 
of  heaven.  Therefore,  chriftian,  ncva"  fear  this  :  if 
thou  be  once  in  heaven,  thou  fliah  fin  no  more.  Is 
not  this  glad  ne^s  to  thee,  whb  haft  prayed,  and 
Tvatched,  and  laboured  a^ainft  it  fo  long-  ?  I  knovir, 
if  it  were  oJlcred  to  thy  choice,  thou  woul4ft  rather 
choofc  to  be  freed  from  (In,  than  to  be  mvle  heir  of 
the  world.  Thoti  Ihalt  have  tr.y  defire  :  that  hard 
heart,  tho'fe  vile  thoughts,  -which  thou  couldll  no  more 
leave  behind  thee,  than  leave  thyfelf  behind  thee,  iliall 
be  now  left  bthind  for  ever.  If  they  accompany  thee 
to  death  they  cannot  proceed  a  flep  further.  Thy 
underfLanding  fliall  never  more  be  troubled  with  dark- 
nefs  :  ignorance  and  error  are  inconfiftent  with  this 
light.  Now  thou  walked  like  a  man  in  the  twilight, 
ever  afraid  of  being  out  of  the  way  :  but  then  will 
all  darknefs  be  difpellfd,  and  cur  blind  underflandings 
fully  opened. 

O  nhat  would  we  give  to  know  clearly  all  the  pro- 
found myPteries  in  the  doclrine  of  redemption,  of  juf- 
tification,  of  the  nature  of  grace,  of  tiie  divine  at- 
tributes 1  What  would  we  give  to  fee  all  dark  fcrip- 
tiires  made  plain  ;  to  fee  all  feeming  coutradicJcns 
reconciled  1  Why,  when  glory  hath  taken  away  the 
veil  ft-om  cur  eyes,  all  this  will  be  known  in  a  mo- 
ment ;  we'  fliall  then  fee  clearly  into  all  th^^»-r-trc- 
veriiej  about  doclrine  or  difc'.pline  tliatr- i-fow  perplex 


58  The  Salntu'  Everlasting  Rest, 

VM.  The  poorefl  chrifiian  is  prefently  there  a  more 
peifedl  divine,  than  any  is  he:e.  We  are  now  through 
our  ignorance  fiibjecl  to  luch  inat'.ibili':y,  that  in 
points  not  fuuduinental,  we  change  as  the  moon  :  but 
V.  hen  once  our  ignorance  is  perfectly  healed,  then  fh;ill 
u'e  be  fettled,  refjlved  men  ;  then  (hall  our  reproach 
be  taken  from  us,  and  we  fliull  never  change  our^ 
judgment  more.  Our  ignorance  now  doth  lead  ui5 
into  error,  to  the  grief  of  our  more  knov/lng  br-'thren, 
to  the  dlflurbiug  the  chu/ch's  quiet,  to  ths  fcanda- 
llzing  of  others,  and  weakening  ourfclvts.  How  ma- 
ny a  faithful  foul  is  leduced  into  error  I  Loth  ihcy 
cire  to  err,  Gt)d  kiiOAs;  and  therefore  reud  aiid  prav, 
and  yot  err  full.  And  In  lelT-r  and  more  diiiiculc 
p.)lnts,  how  ca;i  it  be  othcrwife  ? 

Can  it  be  expe6l.id,  that  men  void  of  learning  anl 
ft.-ength  of  p.irts,  unlludied  and  untaught,  fhould  at 
the  firfl  oni't  know  thofe  truths,  which  th:y  are  ul- 
niod  incapable  of  knowing  at  all?  When  the  greut- 
eil  divines  of  clearcft  jutlgrncnt  acknowledge  fo  muci« 
cliiiiculty,  that  thoy  could  almofr  find  in  their  hiarts, 
f.)mctinus  to  profcfs  them  quite  beyond  their  reach. 
B'.it  O  that  happy  approaclilng  day,  when  error  fnaU 
viuiih  away  for  ever,  wiien  our  uiulerftandlng  fhail 
be  filled  with  God  himfclf,  whafe  light  will  leave  no 
darknefs  in  us  !  His  face  Ih  ill  be  the  fcripture,  wher« 
vve  Ihall  read  the  jruih  ;  and  himfelf  inllead  of  teach- 
ers »nd  councilors,  to  pcrfiM'l  our  underflauJings, 
iiud  acqaaiift  us  with  hiaif'^lf.  No  *  more  error,  no 
n.ore  fcandal  to  others,  no  m.^re  di^iuiet  to  our  own 
i'pirits,  no  more  rniltaken  zeal  for  falfehood.  Many 
a  good  man  hath  here  in  his  milldken  zeal,  been  a 
means  to  deceive  and  pervert  his  brethren  ;  and  when 
lie  f"es  his  own  error,  cannot  again  tell  how  to  unde- 
ceive ther.i  :  but  there  wo  {hall  all  con!pire  in  one 
tiuiibj-ds  being  one  in  him  v.'".  o  Is  i\x'  trirch. 


The  SainU-^  Ever  las  tin;:  I^est.  $9 


a 


Aiid  a$  we  fhall  refl  from  all  the  fm  of  our  under- 
ftandings,  fo  of  our  wills,  affeclions  and  conveiTation. 
We  /hall  noinore  retain  this  rcbeHlnj  principle,  which 
is  frill  witbdrawinj  us  from  God.  We  fhall  no  mor« 
be  opprefTcd  with  the  power  of  our  corruptions,  nor 
vexed  with  thert  prefence  ;  no  pride,  palTion,  floth- 
fulnefs,  fenfcIcfTiiefs  fliall  enter  with  us  ;  no  flrangc- 
nefs  to  God,  and  tbin^is  of  God  ;  no  colunefs  of 
afFjclions,  nor  imperfccftion?  in  our  love  ;  no  uneven 
walkinj,  nor  grieving  of  the  Spirit  ;  no  fcandalous 
S(5lion,  or  unholy  converfation  ;  we  fliall  reft  from  all 
tliefe  for  ever.  Then  Ihall  our  underftandings  receive 
their  lijht  from  the  face  of  God,  as  the  full  moon 
from  the  open  fun  :  then  (lull  our  wills  corrtfpond  to 
the  divine  will,  as/ace  answers  face  in  the  glass  ;  and 
his  will  ihall  be  our  law  and  rule,  from  which  we 
fiiall  never  fwerve  again.  I  conclude  tl'ierefore  with 
the  words  next  my  text,  He  that  is  entered  into  his 
rest,  hath  ceased  from  his  onvn  ivorks,  as  Godfrom 
his.  So  that  there  is  a  perfedl  reft  from  fin. 

Stcond'y,  It  isa  perfe^l  refl  from  fufFering-.  When 
the  caufe  is  gone,  the  effiCl  ceafeth.  Our  fuiferin^s 
were  but  the  confequents  of  our  finning,  and  here 
they  both  ihall  ceafe  together. 

1.  We  fliall  reft  from  all  tlietem^itations  of  Satan. 
Whjit  a  grif f  is  it  to  a  chriftian,  thou?»h  he  yield  not 
to  the  temptation,  yet  to  be  Uill  folicited  to  deny  his 
Lord  ?  That  fuch  a  thought  (liould  be  caft  into  his 
heart  ?  That  lie  can  fct  about  nothing  that  is  good, 
but  Satan  is  ftiU  diffuading  him  from  it,  diftra^ning 
him  in  it,  or  difcouraging  him  after  it  ?  What  a  tor- 
mejit,  as  well  as  a  temptation  is  it,  to  have  fuch 
horrid  motions  made  to  his  foul  ?  Sometime  cruel 
thouglits  of  God  ;  fometime  undervaluing  thoughts 
of  Chrift  ;  fomctime  unbelieving  thoughts  of  fcripture  ; 
fometime  injurious  thoughts  of  Providence  :  to  be 
tempted    fomctime  to   turn    to  prefcnt  things  ;  fome» 


'^•O  ThcS<ihifs''  Hver lasting  JfcsL 

ufhh  to  play  with  tl^c  baits  of  fm  ;  fometiir.e  to  ven- 
ture on  the  delj^-hts  of  tl.e  ficrii  ;  and  fomctime  to 
Athcifin  i'.frit"  ?  Efpeciully  wiicn  mc  kiiow  the  treach- 
ery cf  our  own  hearts,  that  they  ?re  as  tender,  ready  to 
take  f.re  as  foon  as  one  of  thefe  fparks  fnall  fall  iipcii 
thfrn  :  but  when  the  day  of  our  deliverance  ronies, 
■we  fliall  fully  refl  from  ihefc  temptations:  Satan  is 
the!i  bound  up,  the  time  of  tempting  16  done  :  llie 
time  of  torment  to  liimfelf,  and  his  conquered  cap- 
tivfs,  is  then  'come  ;  and  the  vid\orious  faints  fliall 
have  triumph  from  tem.ptation.  Nov/  we  walk  among 
his  fnares,  and  are  in  danger  to  be  f  ircuniTenitd  with 
his  wiles  :  but  then  we  are  quite  above  h's  fnares. 
He  hath  power  here  to  tempt  us  in  the  -NTildcrnefs,  but 
he  entereth  not  the  holy  city  :  he  may  fet  us  on  the 
pinnacle  of  the  temple  in  the  earthly  Jerufalem,  but  the 
new  Jerufalem  he  may  not  approach.  Perhaps  he  may 
bring  us  to  an  exceeding  high  mountain  ;  but  the 
mount  Sion,  and  city  of  tlie  living  God,  he  crnnot 
afcend.  Or  if  he  fliouIJ,  yet  ail  th<:  kingdcips  of  the 
world,  and  the  glory  of  them,  would  be  but  a  poor 
bait  to  the  foul  which  is  ^oifcfltd  of  the  kingdom  of 
our  Lord. 

2.  We  (hall  reft  from  all  our  temptations  which  we 
now  undergo  from  the  world  and  the  tli'ili,  as  well  as 
Satan  :  and  that  is  a  number  inexpreffibh;.  O  the 
hourly  dangers  that  we  here  walk  in  1  Every  fenfc  is 
a  fruire  ;  every  member  a  fnare  ;  every  creature  a 
fnare  ;  every  mercy  a  fnare  ;  and  every  duty  a  fnare 
to  us.  We  can  fcarce  open  our  eyes  but  we  are  in. 
danger  ;  ifwc  bL-liold  them  above  us,  we  are  in  dan- 
ger of  envy  :  if  we  fee  fumptuous  buildings;  pleafant 
habiiiitions,  honor  and  riches,  we  are  in  danger  to 
be  drawn  awny  with  covetous  dcfires  :  if  the  rags  and 
beggary  of  others,  we  are  in  danger  of  felf-applaud- 
ing  thoughts  or  unnK^rcifulntfs  :  if  we  fee  beauty,  it 
is  a  bait  to  lult  ;  if  deformity,  to  loathing  ajid  dif- 
dain.      We  can  fcarcely  hear  awordfpokcn,  but  con- 


Ths  Sahnc'  E-jcrlarsi'rng  Rest,  61 

.lin-to  us  nip.tt?r  of  tcrnptati.!n.      How  Toon  do  flan - 
::roiis  reports,   vain  jcfls,  or   wnnton  Ipeeches  creep 
ir:o  the  heart  ?    Hov/  ftrong-  and  prevalent  a  tempta- 
tion is  our  appetite?   And  how   conQant  ard  firong  a 
•watch  doth  it  require  ?    Have  we  comelinefs  and  beau- 
ty ?   what  fuel  for  pride  1   Are  we  deformed  ?   what  an 
cccafion  of  repining  1    Have  we  frrength  of  reafon  r.nd 
learning  ?   O  how  hnrd  is  it  not   to  be  puflTed  up  :    to 
hunt  after  applau'^'e  ?  todefpifeour  brethren  ?   Are  v/e 
Vinlearned,  of  (hallow  heads,  and  {lender  parts  ?   Ho^ 
apt  then  to  defpife  what  wc  have  not  ?   And  to  undcr- 
valu'"  I'lat  which  v.-e  do  not   know  ?   And  to  err  with 
confidence,   becaufe  of  our   ignorance  ?   And   if  con- 
ceitednefi    and   pride    do  but    Orike    in,  to   become  a 
eealous  enemy  to  truth,  and  a  leading  troubler  of  the 
churcli's  peaces  under  pretences  of  truth  ?   are  we  men 
of  eminency  and  authority  ?   How  ftrong  is  our  tempt- 
ation to  llight  our   brethren  ?    to  abufe  cur   truft  ?   to 
feek    ourfelves  ?   to    ftand  upon  our  honor    and  privi- 
leges ?  to  forget  ourfelves,  our  poor  bretiiren,  ana  tlic 
public  good  ?    how  hard  to   devote  our   pov/er   to  his 
glory,  from  whom   wc  have,  received  it  ?   how   pronft 
to  make  our  wills  our  law  ?  Are   we   inferiers  ?  how 
prone  to  grudge  at  others  pre-eminence  ?  and  to  bring 
their  actions  to  the    bar   of  our  judgment  ?   Are  we 
rich,  and.  not  too   mucli   exalted?   Arer/e  poor,  and 
not  difcontented  ?  Do    we  fet  upon  duties  ?  tliey  are 
fnares  too  :   cither  wq  are  ftupid   and  lazy,  or  reft  in. 
tkem,    and    turn    from    Chrift.      In   a  word,  not    one 
word  that  falls  from  the  mouth  of  a  minifter  or  chrif- 
tian,  but  is  a  fnare;  nor  a  place  we  come  into  ;  not  a 
word  that  our  tongues  fpeak,  not  sny  mercy  we  pof- 
icfs,  uor  a  bit   we   put    in  our  mouths,  bat    they   are 
fnares  ;   not  that  God  hath  made  them  ^o^  but  through 
our  own  corruption  they  become  fo  to  us.     So  that 
what  a  fad  cafe  are  we  in  ?  efpecially   they  that  dif- 
cern  them  not  ?  For  it  is  almoft  impoflible  they  fhould 
tfcape  them.     It   \yao  not  f».'r  nowhin^-  that  cur  Lord 
F 


02  The  Saints''  Ever'astino-  J^^^^^t 


d 


cried  out,  Whal  I  say  tocne^  I  say  to  all^  watch,  Wc 
arc  like  ibc  lepeis  at  Samaria,  If  we  go  into  i/te  city, 
there  is  noihiuF  hut-fcmlne  ;  if  rje  sti  stilly  we  perish. 

But  for  ever  blefied  be  cmnipoient  love,  which 
favfs  us  cut  01  all  thelc,  and  makes  cur  ftraits  but  the 
advantages  of  the  glory  of  lils  grace  I  And  blessed  be 
the  Lord,  who  hath  not  given  ciir  souk  for  a  prey  ;  our 
soul  is  escaped  as  a  bird  out  of  the  snare  of  the  fowler; 
the  snare  is  broken,  and  we  are  escaped,  Now,  our 
houfes,  our  clothes,  our  fleep,  our  food,  ourphyHc, 
rur  father,  mother,  wife,  children,  friends,  goods, 
lands,  are  all  fo  many  temptations  ;  aud  ourfelv  >.s  the 
grca-ccfl  fnare  to  ourielves  ;  but  in  heaven  th.e  danger 
and  trouble  is  over  :  there  is  nothing  but  what  will 
r.dvance  cur  joy.  Now  every  companion  is  beckon- 
ing us  to  fin,  and  we  can  fcarce  tell  how  to  fay  to 
them,  nay  :  l^ut  our  refl:  will  free  us  from  all  thefe. 
As  Satanhath  no  entrance  there,  fo  neither  any  thing 
to  ftrve  his  malice  :  but  all  things  there  v^ith  us  eon- 
fphe  the  praifes  of  our  great  Deliverer. 

3.  And  as  we  reft  from  temptations,  fo  alio  from 
lU  abufes  and  perfecutions  which  v.e  fufftr  at  the 
hands  of  wicked  men.  We  fliall  be  fcorned,  derided, 
imprifcned,  banllhed  by  them  no  more  ;  the  prayers 
if  the  iculs  under  the  altar  will  then  be  anfwered,  and 
God  will  avenge  their  blocd  on  those  that  dwell  on  the 
earth.  This  is  the  time  for  crowning  with  thorns, 
bu'ITctting,  fpitting  en  :  that  is  the  time  for  crowning 
v»ith  glory.  jNow  the  law  is  decreed  en.  That  who- 
soever  wiil  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  sliall  suffer 
persecutions :  then  they  that  suffered  ivith  him,  shall 
be  glorife.d  with  h  im .  Now  we  mti  H  be  hated  of  all  men 
for  Christ^s  name  sake  :  then  will  Christ  be  admi- 
red in  his  saints  that  were  thus  hated.  We  are  here 
as  the  fcorn  and  off-icouiing  of  all  things  ;  as  men 
fet  up  for  agazing-fiock  to  angels  and  nifU,  even  for 
figns  and  >Yonders  aniongli  profclTing  chriftians  j  tbe.y 


Ths  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  63 

put  ns  out  of  their  ry-nar;ogucs,  and  call  out  our  n?.nie 
as  evil,  and  feparate  us  from  tlieir  company  :  but  v.-^ 
fiiall  then  be  as  much  g.-'.zedat  for  our  2:lory,  ai.d  they 
Aviil  be  fhatout  of  ths  church  of  the  faints,  a:-id  fena- 
rr.ted  from  us,  v.'h'ither  .they  v.ill  or  uo.  They  no%r 
thi:ik  it  stra7ig(i  th&fK'c  rut:  riot'ivitk  them  tj  all  cxcass 
of  riot  :  they  will  tlien  think  more  (Ir^ingc  that  they 
ran  not  with  Ui  in  tiie  d^iinifcd  v/ays  of  God.  'AVe 
can  now  fcarce  pray  in  our  families,  or  fmg-  praifc  tn 
God,  but  our  voice  is  a  vexation  to  them  :  how  nm{> 
it  torment  them  then,  to  fee  ns  praifin^^  and  rejoicing, 
v/hik  they  arc  howlinc^-  and  Irimenunr  I 

Brethren,  you  that  now  can  attempt  no  work  ^S 
God  without  refiftance,  and  iind  you  mud:  either  lofe 
the  love  of  the  world,  andycuv  outward  comforts,  or 
clfc  the  lovu  c£  God,  «ij<i  ycnr  e-tern.il  fsilvstion  r 
confider  you  riiall  in  licaveii  have  no  (^'Tjoura'^ini^ 
company,  nor  any  but  thofe  v/ho  will  furth-T  your  work, 
and  gladly  join  heart  and  voic2  with  you  i;i  your 
everhilling  joy  and  praifc.  Ikll  then .  posL  cjsjo:::-  souls 
in prticncc  :  bind  all  reprr/aches  as  a  crcvrn  to  yo.:;- 
heads  :  ell^rem  them  greater  nches  than  the  worhi'-o 
treafure  :  account  it  matter  ofjoj  -eohi-nyt  fall  into  irl- 
bulation.  You  havefeen  that  oar  God  Is  abb  to  deli- 
ver us  ;  but  this  is  nothing  to  our  final  deliverance  : 
hci'ill rcco/npense  tribulation  toth^-.n  ikct  troublcyoxi  ; 
an}  to  joii  that  arc  troubled^  rest  ^ivltJi  Christ, 

4.  We  (hall  tlien  alio  refl:  from  all  oi.r  fad  divi'.ions 
and  untiiviftian  quarrels  with  one  anv;tner.  -  As  he 
laid,  who  fav/  the  carcafcs  lie  to^'ether,  as  if  they  luul 
enibraced  each  other,  who  had  been  llain  by  each 
otiier  in  a  duel  :  '*  How  lovin^dy  do  they  em!)raco 
''  one  anodier,  who  |v'ri{htd  throu;>-h  thtrir  mutual 
"enmity  I"  So,  how  lovingly  do  thoufands  li.e  to- 
gether in  heaven,  who  lived  in  divilions  on  earth  I 
As  he  fuid)  v/ho  beheld  how  quietly  and  peaceably 
the  bones  ar.ddult  of  mortal  enemies  did  lie  together. 


64  The  Saints'  Everla&ting  J^g^t. 

*^  you  did   not  live    to-cther  fo    per.ceablv."     So    wc 
may  lay  of  muItituJes  in  heaven  now  all  of  one  mine' 
•ne  heart,  and  one   employment,  you    lived    not   cii 
earth  in  lo  Aveet  familiarity.     There  is  no  contenti- 
on, becaiife  ncnecf  this  pride,  ignorance,  or  other  cor- 
ruption :   Paul  and  Barnabas  are  now  fully  reconciled. 
1  ^^^y^^hty  are  not   every  man  conceited  cf'his  own 
■underihnduu;,  and   in  love   with  the  iffne  of  his  own 
brain  ;   but  all  admi,ing  the  divine  perieaion,    and  la 
lore    with    God  and  one   r.nclhcr.     A.  old   Grvneus 
^•rotc  to  his  friend,  <'  If  I  fee  you  no  more  on  earth, 
yet  we  fliall  there  meet;  where  Lutlier  and  Zuinklu;s 
are  now   well   agreed."     Thne    is    no  recording    our 
brethren's  infirmities;   nor  raking  into  the  for:- s  which 
Chrntdied  to  ileal.   I'here  is  no  plotting  to  ftrcm-then 
•  ur  party  ;  nor  deep  dcfigning  againf^  our  bretlircn. 


now  lb  contvary  ?  Surtly,  ifthcrrebe  forrow  or  {]r.imc 
in  heaven,  we  ihall  then  b^- bot!)  forry  and  alhamcd  to 
lock  one  another  in  the  face  :  and  to  remember  all 
this  carriage  on  earthy  even  as  the  brethren  of  Jofeph 
v/ere  to  behold  l;iin,  when  they  reujtmbercd  their 
former  unkind  ufage.  Is  it  not  enough  that  all  the 
>yorld  is  againll  us,  but  we  mull  alfo  be  againft  our- 
jclves  ?  Did  I  ever  think  to  have  heard  chriftians  lb 
to  reproach  and  fcorn  chriRians  ?  And  men  profcflln!;- 
the  fear  of  God,  to  make  to  little  confclence  of  cen- 
fuviiig-,  villifying,  and  difgracing'  one  another?  O 
■what  helliili  things  are  ignorance  and  pride,  that  can 
bring  men's  fouls  to  fuch  a  cafe  as  this  !  Paul  knew 
•what  he  faid,  when  he  commanded,  that  a  n:/vice 
should  not  be  a  teacher^  lest  being  lifted  up  he  fall  into 
the  condemnation  of  the  de\)ily  i  Twii.  ill.  G.  lie  dif- 
ccrned  that  fuch.yt)ung  chrifllans  that  have  got  but  a 
little  fmatterlng  knowledge  in  religion,  lie  in  great- 
ell  danger  of  this  pride  and  condemiiaiion.  Who  but 
Paul  could  have  forefeen  that  among  the  very  teacher:; 
and  governors  cl"  i'j  choice  a  churcli  as  Epkcfus,  tlicv*; 


The  Saint'i^  Everlasting  Rest,  (^5 

Avere  fome  that  afteM-v/ards  flioiilJ  be  notciious  fe*^- 
rnaders  ?  That  of  their  civn  sehes  men  should  arise, 
speaking  perverse  things,  to  dravj  civ aj  disciples  af- 
ter their  <,  Aas  XX.  SO.  Who  then  can  expc a  better 
from  any  fociety  now,  how  knowir.,q  and  holy  foever  ? 
To-day  they  may  h't  unanimous,  and  joined  in  love  ; 
and  perhaps  within  a  few  weeks  be  divided,  and  at 
bitter  enmity,  through  their  doatinj  on  queftions  llir' 
tend  not  to  edify. 


at 


5.  We  fliall  thci\  rcH:  from  ail  wh'ch  we  now  un- 
dergo, by  participating  with  cur  brethren  in  their 
calamities.  Alas,  if  wc  had  nothing  upon  ourfelvc* 
to  trouble  us,  yet  what  heart  could  lay  afide  forrowj, 
that  lives  in  the  found  of  the  church's  fufFcrings  ?  If 
Job  had  nothinp;  upon  his  body  to -difquiet  -him,  yet 
the  meffagc  of  his  children's  overthrov/-  rauil  needs 
g-rieve  the  mofl  patient  foul.  Except  v;e  are  turned 
into  fteel  or  flone,  and  have  loft  both  chriftian  and. 
human  affeaion,  there  needs  no  more  than  the  mife- 
ries  of  our  brethren  to  fill  "ouf  hearts  with  forruws. 
The  church  on  earth  is  a  mere  hofpital  ;  which  v/ay 
foever  we  go,  we  heap  complaining  ;  and  into  what 
corner  foever  we  caft  onr  eyes,  wc  behold  obje6ls  of 
pity:  fome  groaning  under  a  dark  anderflanding, 
fume  under  a  fenfelefs  heart,  feme  languiHiing  under 
unfruitful  weaknefs,  and  fome  bleeding  for  mifcarri- 
ages  and  wilfalnefs,  and  fome  in  a  lethargy,  that  they 
are  paft  complaining  ;  feme  crying  out  of  their  pin- 
ing poverty  ;  fome  groaning  under  pains  and  irfirmi- 
ties,  and  fome  bewailing  a  v;hok  cataloguc-of  calami- 
ties, efpecially  in  days  of  common  fufftrirgs  ;  but 
our  day  of  reft  will  free  us  and  them  from  all  this. 
Now  we  may  enter  many  a  poor  chrilUan's  cottage, 
and  fee  poverty  pofielling  and  lilling  all  j  how  inach 
better  is  that  day,  when  we  (hall  fee  them  fiil-d  with 
ChriR,  clcathed  with  glory,  and  equal  with  the 
greateft  princes  ? 

F  2 


6(3  1  he  ^anils'  t'jtrkistiu^  Ktui, 

Rut  a  far  grcatrr  grief  it  is  to  our  fpiriis,  to  fcr 
the  fpirllual  iniiViies  of  our  brethren  :  to  fee  fuclj  nn 
one,  with  whom  wc  took  fweet  coiinfcl,  now  falling 
off  to  fcnfuality,  turned  drunkard,  worlding,  or  a 
pcrfetulv  ».  and  thefe  trying  times  have  given  us  too 
lar;jr  oecafion  for  fiich  fnrrows  ;  to  fee  our  dcrareft 
friends  turned  afidc  from  the  truth  of  Chrift,  and  'con- 
fident in  the  fleni,  continue  t'aeir  ncgL-cl  of  Ciirifl  and 
thtfir  fouls,  and  nothinj  waking  tlicm  out  of  th.ir  fe- 
curity  ;  and  to  think  how  certainly  they  fliali  be  in 
lu-ll  for  cv'-r,  if  they  die  in  their  prefcnt  (late  :  and 
iviH  it  not  be  a  bk-ffod  day,  when  we  fhall  rcQ  from  all 
thcfefonows  ?  t'  Whr n  thencopic  Ihall  be  all  righteous, 
even  the  work  of  God's  h:\nds,  the  br.mth  of  hL  plant- 
ing, that  he  ma,y  be  glorified  ?"  Thii>  lh:tll  we  red  from 
Cur  participation  of  our  brethren's  fufilringo. 

G.  We  fiia'l  reft  fiom  all  our  perfoiial  fi.flfrrin^^s. 
And  thougli  this  nay  fecni  a  f;uA!I  t'-.iiij^-  to  thole  that, 
live  in  continual  taf.-,  and  abound  in  all  kind  of  prof- 
perity;  yet  methinks,  ^o  the  daily  alHiAed  f.»ul,  it 
fli  iild  make  the  fore-thoughts  of  heaven  delightful  : 
and  I  tiji:.I:  T  Hiall  meet  with  few  of  tlie  faint*,  \)\ 
will  fay,  that  this  is  their  own  cafe. 

Though  we  arc  reconciled  by  the  blood  of  the  co- 
vcna:>t,  ami  ti'..*  price  is  paid  for  our  full  delivcrauct  : 
yet  our  Redeemer  fees  fit  to  leave  this  mcaiVrc  of  r.,i 
lery  upon  us.  to  mind  us  nf  what  we  would  tlie  for- 
gi^t  :  to  beferviceubic  t<j  his  wii'c and  gracious  dvligns, 
and  ad.;;iir;i;;t  JUS  to  our  full  and  linal  recovery.  A-, 
all  oti  fci.iji  arc  the  inlets  of  fin  ;  i"o  tlicy  arc  tii« 
leto  of  forrow.  Grief  creeps  ii;  at  our  eyes,  at  o 
cars,  and  abnoll  every  v.iicra  :  it  fcizetii  u^on  cur 
head,  ou."  hearts,  our  fiefli,  ourfpiilts  :  ^nd  wh.it  pat. 
dc  t!i  ci'cajx*  it  ?  fears  devour  us.,  and  dark^i  our  dr- 
lic^hto,  as  thefruflnlp*  ihc  buds  :  cures  fc<  d  upon  our 
f^)ifit3,  as   tlie  rcorcl.i.i;-^-  fun  dctii  ^viJler  wii  dclic;itc 


J!    - 

r 


The  Saints^  Everlastlnz  Rcet,  67 


o 


fiov/ers.     Or,  if  any  hath  fortified  his  inwards  agHinft 
thefe,  yet  h-^  is  naked  ilill  withctit. 

What  tender  pieces  are  thefe  dufty  bod'.es  ?  What 
brittle  glalTes  do  we  bear  •about  us?  And  how  many 
thonfand  dar.o,ers  arc  they  hurried  through  ?  And  how 
hardiy  cnred  if  once  cracked  ?  O  the  multitude  of 
flendtr  veins,  of  tender  membranes,  nerves,  fibres, 
mufcles,  arteries  ;  and  all  fubject  to  obflruclions,  ten- 
fions,  contradlions,  refolutions,  ruptures,  or  one 
thing  or  otlicr  to  caufe  their  grief!  Every  one  is  a 
fit  fubje<5l  for  pain,  and  fit  to  communicate  thp.tpain 
to  the  whole:  but  Tki,  and  flefii,  and  dull:,  and  pain, 
>^ill  all  be  left  behind  together. 

O  the  bkiTcd  tranquillity  of  that  region,  WLiO 
there  is  nothing  but  fweet  continued  peace  I  No  fuc- 
cefTion  cf  joy  there,  becaufe  no  intermilTicn.  Our 
lives  will  be  bat  one  joy,  -as  our  time  will  be  chr.ng- 
ed  into  one  eternity.  O  healthful  place  where  nvone 
are  fick  I  O  fortunate  land,  %vhere  all  are  kings  I  O 
place  moft  holy,  where  all  are  priefts  \  How  free  a 
ftate,  where  none  ari  fervants,  fave  to  their  fuprem^ 
nionarch  !  Our  face  fnall  no  more  be  pale  or  fad  ;  our 
groans  and  fighs  vvill  be  done  away,  and  God  shall 
tuipe  atvay  ail  tear?, from  our  eyes.  No  more  parting' 
of  niendo,  nor  voice  of  lamentation  heard  in  our 
dwellings;  no  more  breaches  nor  diiproportion  in  our 
friendfliip,  nor  any  trouble  accompanying  our  rela- 
tions :  no  more  c.ire  of  mafters  for  fervants,  or  pa- 
rents for  children,  or  magiftrates  over  fubjc^ls,  or 
ininiilers  over  people.  O  what  room  can  tli-re  be  for 
any  evil,  where  the  whole  is  perfectly  filled  witii 
God  I  **  Tlicn  ihall  the  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  return  and 
come  to  S  •■n  withlbn«^3,  dud  everladlngjoy  upo;i  theii* 
heads.  They  (ludl  obtain  joy  and  gladneis,  anil  forro'V 
and  fighing  lliall  dee  away-,"  Ifaiah  xxxv,  10.  Hold 
out  -hen  .1  little  lon^  n-,  O  my  foul  ;  bear  with  the  in- 
£riaities  of  thine carUdy  tabernacle  j  endure  that  fuavs 


GS  The  Scinit.y   Ever  hit 'nig  Rest, 

of  iorrows,  that  tli?  love  of  tliy  Father  fliall  Inipofe  ; 
lubnilt  to  his  indignation  alfo,  becaufe  then  haft  fin- 
ned  againfc  him  ;  it  v;ill  be  thus  but  a  little  while  ; 
the  found  of  thy  Redeemer's  feet  is  even  at  the  door  ; 
anc]  thine  ovn  dclivtrance  nearer  than  rnany  others. 
Andthcu  who  haft  often  cried  in  the  language  of  the 
divine  poet, 

So*-rorj  was  all  y,:y  sci'l  ;  I  scarce  neliev'd, 
Till  gr:ef  did  tell  me  roundly,  that  I  liv'd  ; 

fhalt  then  f>cl,  that  God  and  joy  is  all  thy  foul  ;  the 
fruition  of  whom,  Avith  thy  freedom  from  all  thefe 
forrows,  will  more  fv.'^etly  and  more  feelingly  make 
tht-e  know,  and  to  liis  eternal  praife  acknowledge, 
tluit  thou  liveft.  And  thus  we  fliall  reft  from  all  af- 
fiiclicns. 

The  laft  bleffed  attribute  of  this  reft  is,  that  it  is 
an  eternal  rest.  This  is  the  crown  of  our  crown  ; 
v.ithcut  which  all  v/ere  comparatively  nothing.  The 
very  thought  of  leaving  it  would  embitter  all  our 
joy*  ;  and  the  more,  becaufe  of  the  fmgular  excellen- 
cies we  m.ull  fuffake.  It  would  be  a  hell  in  heaven 
to  think  of  once  iofing  heaven  :  as  it  would  be  a  kind 
(f  heaven  to  the  tlanined,  liad  they  but  hopes  of  once 
cic  aping. 

It  makes  our  prefent  life  of  little  value  (were  it 
not  fcr  the  reference  it  hath  to  eternity)  to  think  that 
v/e  mr.ft  fliortly  lay  it  down.  How  can  we  take  de- 
light in  any  thing,  when  we  remember  how  fliort  that 
delight  will  be  ?  But,  O  blelTcd  eternicy  I  where 
t  ur  lives  are  perplexed  with  no  fuch  thoughts,  nor 
our  joys  interrupted  with  any  fuch  fears  ?  O  what  do 
1  fay  when  I  talk  of  eternity  ?  Can  my  fliallow 
thoughts  conceive  it?  To  be  eternally  blefttd,  and  fo 
bleffed  !  Surely  this,  if  any  tiling,  is  tiie  refcmblance 
*f  God  ;  eternity  is  a  piece  of  infinitenefs.     Then,  0 


Tlio  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  69 

dcaih^  nvhere  /.?  thy  sting?  0 gravs,  nvhere  is  thy  victo- 
ry ?  Days,  and  nights,  and  years,  time  and  end,  and 
death  are  words  which  there  have  no  fignification  ; 
nor  are  \.\\^6.^  except  perhaps  to  extol  eternity  ;  as  the 
mention  of  hell,  to  extol  heaven:  all  the  years  of  our 
Loid,  and  the  years  of  our  life,  are  fwallowed  up  aud 
loll  in  this  eterriity. 

While  we  v/ere  fervants,  we  held  by  leafe  ;  aiiu  that 
but  for  the  term  of  traniitury  life  :  But  the  son  abidcth 
in  the  house  for  cocv.  Cur  earthly  paradife  iji  Eden  had 
a  way  out,  but  none,  that  ever  we  could  find,  in 
again  :  but  this  eternal  paradife  hath  a  way  in  (a 
milky  way  to  us,  but  a  bloody  way  to  Chrift)  but  no 
way  out  again  :  For  they  that  roould  pass  from  hence  t» 
you  fsaith  AbrcJiam)  cannot :  a  ih-ange  phrafe  I  would 
aiiy  i^afs  froFii  fuch  a  place,  if  they  might  i  Could 
ti-xy  endure  to  oe  abfeut  irom  oca  again  one  hour: 
No  :  bat  upon  fuppofal  they  v/ould,  yet  tliey  could 
not.  O  then,  my  foul,  let  go  thy  dreams  of  prelent 
pkafures  :  and  loofc  thy  hold  of  earth  and  fle(li.  Fear 
not  to  enter  that  eCiat.?,  where  thou  Ihalt  ever  after 
ceafe  thy  fears.  Sit  down,  and  fadly  once  a  day  be- 
think thyfelt'  of  this  eternity  :  among  all  the  arith- 
metical numbc-rs,  ftudy  the  value  of  this  infinite  c\-- 
pher,  which  thc;ugh  it  Hand  for  nothing  in  the  vul- 
gar account,  doth  yet  contain  all  our  millions,  as 
much  lefs  than  a  fimple  unit :  lay  by  the  perplexed  and 
contradicting  chrcnolcgical  tables,  and  fix  thine  eye 
on  this  eternity  ;  and  the  .lines  wliich  remote  thou 
couldilnot  fiiUow,  th  )U  Oialt  fee  altogether  here  crn- 
centred.  Study  lefs  tuefe  tcd.ous  volumes  of  hiflcry, 
which  contain  but  th::  filent  Urtrratioi!  of  dreams,  and 
are  but  the  pictures  of  the  acVions  of  Ihadows  ;  and 
infitad  of  all,  ihidy  frecjuentiy,  fhuly  tlirougldy,  this 
'one  ^yord  [^ctcrnity^']  and  v/lieu  thou  hull  thrui\ghly 
li'arnL-d  that  oue  word,  thou  wilt  never  look  on  bookc 
again.  What  !  live  and  never  die  !  Rejoice,  and  ever 
j-ejoicc  1   O,   what  fweet  words  arc  thefe  1    Tnis  wcvd 


ro  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

l^e'Derlasting]  contains  the  sccomplifhed  perfe<f\lon  of 
our  glory.  O  that  the  v/icked  linncr  would  but 
ioundly  fiiidy  th.is  word  [^everlajtin^  f]  methinks  it 
fhoiild  ilaitle  hirn  cut  of  his  deep  fleep  1  O  thiit  the 
gracious  foul  would  believingly  ftudy  this  word  [t'^'tr- 
lasting ;'\  u:ethi;]ks  it  (hould  revive  him  in  the  dcepeft 
»gony  1  And  muft  1,  Lord,  thus  live  for  ever  ? 
Then  will  1  alio  love  for  ever.  Muft  my  joys  be  im- 
nrjrtpd  ?  And  fliall  not  my  thanks  b^  aifo  immortal  ? 
Surely,  if  I  fliall  never  lofe  my  glory,  I  vi/ill  never  al- 
fo  ce?dc  thy  pr:i;fe3.  If  thou  wilt  both  peifcdl  and 
perpetuate  me,  and  nry-  glory  ;  as  I  ihall  be  thine, 
rnd  not  mins  ov/n,  fo  (liall  my  glory  be  thy  glory  ; 
r.nd  as  they  did  take  their  Ipring  from  thee,  fo  all 
ihall  devolve  to  tlice  again  ;  aad  as  thy  glory  was 
tinn^  ultimate  end  in  mygiory,  fo  {h:ill  it  alfo  be  mine 
did,  Avlien  thou  haft  crowned  me  vvitk  tj.ut  gloiy 
which  hath  no  end.  And  to  '-  Thee,  O  klnj  eternal,  im- 
mortal, invifibit,  tlie  only  wife  God,  0rall  be  the  koa- 
fiir.  and  glory,  for  ever  and  ever.     Aip^ca." 


CKAP.     VI. 

The  Peoi'le  of  God  described, 

HA  VI  N'G  tl'Uo  pcrfornie-J  my  hrft  tid:  of  defcrib- 
ing  the  fainii,'  reft  :  it  rcnjaiiis  that  now  1  pro- 
ceed to  th^  fecund,  and  fiir.v  you  wh:.t  thefc  people  of 
God  are,  and  why  fo  caiic^d  ;  for  whom  tii'.s  b^cfud 
rr ft  remainetli. 

Regeneration  Is  i-.^  :.i.\.  ui..^  j;*-'^-  .^u.<niie-.w..i.;.  of 
the  people  of  God.  To  be  tiit  people  uf  Gccl.  vvith- 
out  regerieriritioH,  is  as  impolfibie  a-j  to  be  tlie  ch.iKiren 
of  men  without,  generition  ;  feeing  we  i.-.q  born  God's 
en:;inies,  we  muft  be  new-born  ins  fens,  or  die  re- 
main his  enemies  lliil. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  71 

Chi  ill  hath  fpoken  it  with  his  mouth  "  That  except 
a  mail  be  born  again,  he  cannot  t-ntcr  into  the  kingdom  ot: 
God."  The  greatefl  reformation  of  lift-,  without  this 
new  life  v/rongat  in  tl\e  foul,  niriy  procure  our  furtlier 
delufion,  but  never  our  falvation. 


But  by  wliat  acTts  do'^h  this  new  life  difcover  itfelf  ? 

I'hc  finl  work  I  call  convicllon,  which  comprehends 
the  knowledge  of  T.h  it  the  fcripture  fpeaks  a.pinfl  fiii 
and  finners  ;  und  that  the  fcriprure  v/hich  fpeaks  fo, 
is  the  word  of  God  himfelf.  It  comprehends  alfo, 
fome  knowledge  of  ourfelves,  and  our  own  guilt,  and 
an  acknowledgement  of  the  verity  ofthofe  confequen- 
ccs,  v.'liich,  from  the  pratfVice  of  iin  in  us,  and  threats 
in  fcripturcj  corxlude  us  milerabie. 

3.  As  there  niuPi  be  conviclion,  fo  alfo  fenfibility. 
God  works  on  the  heart,  as  well  as  the  head  ;  both 
were  corrupted  and  out  of  order.  The  principle  of 
nev/  life  doth  quicken  both.  All  true  fpiritual  know- 
ledge doth  pais  into  the  affeclions.  The  great  things  of 
fm,  of  grace,  and  Chrift,  and  eternity,  which  are  of 
weight,  one  would  tliink  to  move  a  rock  Jvy^t  fhake 
not  the  heart  of  the  carnal  profelTor,  nor  pierce  hii 
foul  lo  the  quick  :  though  he  flionld  be  a  crn(>ant 
preacher  of  them  to  others,  yet  they  little  affccV  him- 
felf :  when  he  is  prefling  them  upon  the  hearts  of 
others,  you  would  little  think  how  infenfible  is  Ids 
own  foul  :  his  invention  procuretii  him  zealous  and 
moving  expreilions;^  but  they  cannot  procure  hii:i  ;'.  :- 
iwerable  aifedlions." 

The  things  that  the  foul  is  thui;  convinced  and  feii- 
fible  of,  are  efpecially  thefe  : 

1.  The  evil  of  fin.  The  finncr  is  made  to  kno\r 
and  feci,  that  the  fin,  which  v/as  his  delight,  is  a 
more  loatlifome  thing  than  toads  or   f.-rpents,   and  a 


72  The  Saifits^  Everlasting  Rc.^:'. 

HreatercNi!  than  plaq:iie  or  famine,  or  any  other  cala- 
mities :  it  being-  a  breach  of  the  righteous  law  cf  the 
nioft  hii/h  Godj  difnonorable  to  him,  and  dcfhuclive 
to  the  Tinner. 

Nov/  tlie  finner  reads  and  hears  the  reproofs  of  fin, 
as  -words  of  courfe  ;  but  v/hen  you  mention  his  fin,  he 
feels  you  ipeak  at  his  very  heart,  and  yet  is  contented 
you  fliould  fliewhim  the  worft  :  he  was  wont  to  mar- 
vel, -ivhat  made  men  keep  fuch  a  fHr  againft  fin,  wh.^t 
]iar:n  it  was  for  a  man  to  take  a  little  pleafure  ;  he 
fav/TiO  fuch  heinoufnefs  in  it.  But  now  the  cafe'  is  al- 
tered ;  God  hath  opened  his  e3'-es  to  fee  its  inexprclTi- 
bie  vileivefs. 

2.  The  foul  in  this  great  work  is  convinced  and 
fenfible,  asoftliecvil  of  f:n,  fo  of  its  own  mifciy  by 
rcafon  of  fm.  They  who  before  read  the,  threats  of 
God's  law,  as  men  do  the  {lories  of  foreign  wars  ; 
novs'  find  it  is  their  own  ftory,  and  perceive  they  read 
their  own  doom,  as  if  they  found  their  names  written 
in  the  curfe,  or  heard  the  law  fay,  as  Nathan,  tlioii 
art  the  man.  The  v/rath  of  Ged  feemed  to  him  but 
;  '  a  dorm  to  a  man  in  a  dry  houic  :  but  now  he  finds 
.ifeafe  is  his  own,  and  feels  the  pains  in  his  own 
..^„ch.  In  a  word,  he  finds  himfelf  a  condemned 
rnr.n,  dead  and  damned  in  point  of  law,  and  that  no- 
thi}jg  is  wanting  but  mere  execution  to  make  him  ab- 
foluteiy  and  irrecoverably  miferable. 

Whether  you  will  call  this  a  work  of  the  law  or 
gofpel,  it  is  a  work  of  the  Spirit  wrought  in  fome  mea- 
fure  in  all  the  regenerate  :  And  though  fome  judge  it 
muieceaary  bondage,  yet  it  is  beyond  my  conceiving, 
how  he  (iiould  come  to  Chriil  for  pardon,  that  firlt 
found  not  himfelf  guilty  and  condemned  :  The  nvhole 
r.eed  not  the  physician^  but  they  that  are  sick.  Yet  I  de- 
ny not,  but  the  difcovery  of  the  remedy  as  foon  as  the 
Biifery,  may  prevent  a  great   part  of  the  trouble,  and 


The  Saintb'  Evcrlaziing  Rest.  73 

tliecliftinifV-  eflfecl  on  the  foul,  to  be  >rith  much  niorf 
dillirtilty  diicerned  :  nay,  the  ac^.ings  of  the  foul  are 
fo  quick,  and  oft  fo  confufed,  that  the  difllnd  order 
cf  thefe  workings  inny  not  b^  apprehended  or  reiuein- 
beredatall:  and  perhaps  the  joyful  apprehenfions  of 
tnercy  may  make  the  i^w^^  of  nVifeiy  the  fooner  for- 
gotten. 

?,,  So  doth  tl'.e  Spirit  alio  convince,  the  fou!,of  the 
creature's  vanity  and  infufficiency.  Every  man  n?.tu- 
fally  is  a  flat  idolater,  our  hearts  were  turned  from 
God  in  our  firft  fall ;  and  ever  fince  the  creature  hath 
been  our  God  :  this  is  the  grand  fin  of  nature  :  when 
v.'e  fet  up  to  ourfelves  a  wrong  end,  we  mud:  needs 
err  in  all  the  means.  The  creature  is  to  every  unre- 
generatc  man  his  God  ;  he  afcribeth  to  it  the  divin;;? 
prerogatives,  and  alloweth  it  the  highe^  rociyj-  in  his 
foul,  or  if  ever  he  come  to  be  convinced  of  mifery, 
he  fleeth  to  it  as  his  Saviour.  Indeed  God  and  his 
(Ihrift  have  ufualiy  the  name  ;  but  the  real  expecta- 
tion 13  from  the  creature,  and  the  work  of  God  is 
hid  upon  it.  His  pleafure,  his  profit,  and  his  honor, 
is  tiie  natural  man's  trinity  ;  and  his  felf,  that  is  thcfc 
in  unity  :  indeed,  it  is  that  fleih  that  is  the  principal 
idol  ;  the-  other  three  are  deified  in  their  relation  to 
ourfelves.  It  was  our  firft  iin,  to  afpire  to  be  a? 
gods  ;  and  it  is  the  greateft  fin  that  runs  in  our  blood, 
and  is  propagated  in  our  nature  from  generation  to 
generation. 

When  God  fliould  guide  u>,  vre  guide  ourfelves  ; 
when  he  fhould  be  our  fovereign,  we  rule  ourJelves. 
The  laws  which  he  gives  us,  we  find  fault  with  ;  ynd 
if  we  had  had  the  making  of  them,  we  would  have 
inude  thsm  otherwife  :  when  he  Hiould  take  care  of 
¥s  (and  mull,  or  we  periih)  we  will  care  for  our- 
felves ;  when  we  fhould  depend  on  him  daily,  we  had 
r/thf  r  keep  our  ftock  ourfelve-s,  aud  have  our  portion 
G 


T4  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Mest, 

in  our  own  hands  ;  '\vhcn  Ave  fliould  ft  and  at  his  difpo- 
fal,  AYC  would  be  at  our  ov/n  ;  a;id  >vhtn  Ave  fhould 
fubmit  to  liis  piovidtnce,  we  ufually  quarrel  at  it  ; 
as  if  we  knew  better  what  is  ^ocd  for  us  than  be^  or 
how  to  difpofe  all  tinngs  more  wifely.  This  is  the 
language  of  a  carnal  heart,  though  i:  doth  not  always 
fpealc  out.  When  we.  flioukl  lludy  God,  we  ftudy 
ourfelves  ;  when  we  fhould  mind  God,  we  mind  our- 
felves  ;  when  we  Pnould  love  God,  we  love  ourfelves  ; 
■when  we  fliould  truft  God,  we  truft  ourfelves;  when 
we"^  Ihould  honor  God,  we  honor  ourfelves  ;  when 
we  fliould  afcribe  to  God,  and  admire  him,  we  afciibc 
to,  and  admire  ourfelves  ;  and  inftead  of  God,  we 
would  have  all  men's  eyes  and  dependence  on  us,  and 
all  Idea's  thanks  returned  to  us,  and  would  gladly  be 
the  only  men  on  earth  admired  and  extolled  by  all. 

And  thus  we  are  naturally  our  own  idols :  but  down 
falls  this  Dagon,  when  God  does  once  renew  the  foul  ; 
it  is  the  great  bufinefs  of  that  great  work  to  bring  the 
heart  back  to  God.  He  convinceth  the  finncr,  1. 
That  the  creature  can  neither  be  his  God,  to  make 
him  ;  2.  Nor  yet  his  Qhrift,  to  recover  him  from  his 
mifery  to  rellore  him  to  '^}od,  who  Is  his  happinefs. 
This  God  doth  not  only  by  preaching,  but  by  Pro- 
vidence alio  ;  becaufe  words  will  hardly  take  off  the 
raging  fenfes,  therefore  doth  Gcd  make  liis  rod  to 
fpeak,  and  continue  fpeaklng,  till  the  fmner  hear,  aad 
hath  learned  this  great  lefTon. 

This  is  the  great  reafon  why  afdi^lion  doth  fo  or- 
diftarily  concur  in  the  work  of  converfion  ;  thefe  real 
arguments  which  fpeak  to  the  quick,  will  force  a 
hearing  when  the  mofl:  powerful  words  are  flighted. 
When  a  finner  made  his  credit  his  God,  and  God 
fliall  caft;  him  into  the  loweft  difgrace  ;  or  bring  him 
that  idolized  his  riches,  into  a  condition  wherein  they 
cannot  help  him,  or  caufc  them  to  take  wings  and  fly 
away  ;  what  a  help  is  here  to  this  work  of  convi<^ioia  ? 


The  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest.  76 

When  a  man  that  made  his  pleafure  his  God,  whe- 
ther eaie,  or  fports,  or  mirth,  or  company,  or  glut- 
tony, or  drunkennefs,  or  clothing,  or  buildings  ; 
or  whatlbever  a  ranging  eye,  a  curious  ear,  a  raging 
appetite,  or  a  hiflf'ul  heart  could  defire,  and  God 
Hiall  take  thefe  from  him,  or  give  him  their  fting  and 
curfe  with  them,  afid  turn  them  al!  into  gall  and 
wormwood,  what  a  htdp  is  here  to  convicton  r  When 
God  fliall  cafl  a  man  into  a  languifhing  fickncfs,  and 
infli^  wounds  and  anguifli  on  his  heart,  and  ftir  up 
againO:  him  his  own  confcience,  and  then  as  it  wtre 
take  him  by  the  hand,  and  lead  him  to  credit,  to 
riches,  to  pleafure,  to  •company,  to  fports,  cr  what- 
foevcr  w^as  dearefl:  to  him,  and  fay,  now  tr)' if  theft 
can  help  you  ;  cAn  thtfe  heal  tiiy  wounded  ccnfcience  ? 
Can  they  now  {w^^^.cxt  thy  tottering  cottage  ?  Ctirt 
they  keep  thy  departing  foul  in  thy  body  ?  Or  favc 
tliee  from  mine  cverlaiUng  wrath  ?  Will  they  prove 
to  thee  eternal  pleafure  ?  Or  redeem  thy  lou!  frOnr 
the  eternal  flames  ?  Cry  aloud  to  them,  and  fee  now 
whether  thefe  will  be  int^ead  of  God  and  his  Chrid 
linto  thee.  O  how  this  works  with  the  liiiner  I  wiiei: 
fenfe  itlclf  ackno.vledgeti^  the  truth,  and  even  the  flclli 
n  convinced  of  the  creature's  vanity. 

4.  The  fourth  thing  that  the  foul  is  convinced  and 
fenlible  of,  is  the  abfolute  ntcellity,  the  full  fuificicn- 
cy,     and  pcrfe(Sl  excelltncy  of  Jtfus  CT.rift. 

This  conviction  is  not  by  nu:v?.  argumentation,  a!! 
a  man  is  coiivincedof  ^o-y^  unconcerning  confequencc 
by  diipute  i  but  alio  by  \\v:  feme  of  our  deiperatu 
mifery,  as  a  man  in  a  famine,  of  the  necelhty  of  food  ; 
or  a  man  that  had  read,  or  heard  his  condemnation, 
is  convinced  of  th.e  abfolute  necLjity  of  a  pardon. 
Nov/  the  finner  finds  nimftlf  in  another  cufc  than  ever 
he  v/as  i.ware  of:  he  feels  an  mfupportable  burden 
upon  him,  and  fees  there  is  none  but  Chrift  can  take 
it  oH":  he  perceives   that   he   is    under  the    wrath  of 


^6  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest 


God,  and  that  tht  law  proclaims  lilm  a  rebel  and 
cut-law,  and  none  but  Chrlfi:  can  make  his  peace  :  he 
IS  a  man  purfued  by  a  lion,  that  iruift  perifh  if  he 
find  not  prefent  fanauary  :  he  fVcls  the  cuife  doth  He 
iJpon  him,  and  upon  all  he  hath,  for  his  fake,  and 
Chrift  alone  can  make  him  bleffed  :  he  is  now  brought 
to  this  dilemma,  (hither  he  muft  have  Chrifl  to  jufify 
hhn,  or  be  eternally  ccndenmed;  he  muft  have  Chrifl 
to  fave  him,  or  burn  in  hell  for  ever  :  he  muft  have 
Chrifl  to  bring  him  again  to  God,  or  be  fiiut  out  of 
his  prefencc  everlaiVmgly.  And  no  wonder,  if  he  cry, 
^i  the  martyr  Lambert,  none  but  Christ:  7umc  but  C/iri:.t, 
It  is  not  gold,  but  bread,  that  will  fatlsfythe  hungry  : 
lior  any  thing  but  pardon,  that  will  comfort  the  con- 
demned. All  things  are  now  but  dross  and  dung ;  and 
Hi'hat  he  counted gain^  is  now  but  loss  in  comparison 
of  Christ :  for  as  the  finner  feeth  his  utter  mifery,  and 
the  difabllity  of  hlmfelf,  and  all  things  to  relieve  him  ; 
xo  he  doth  perceive,  that  there  is  no  favlng  rnercy  out 
of  Chrifl.  There  is  none  found  in  heaven  or  on  earth 
that  can  open  the  fealed  bock,  fave  the  Lamb  ;  with- 
out his  blood  there  i^  no  r^miflion,  and  without  remif- 
fion  there  is  no  falvatlon.  Could  the  fiTmer  novv-  jn?ke 
any  fliift  without  Chrifl,  or  cculd  any  thing  elfe  fr.pply 
his  wants,  and  fave  his- foul,  then  might  Chrifl  be  dif-' 
regarded  ;  hut  now  he  is  convinced,  tliat  there  is  n© 
othrr  name,  and  the  necclniy  is  abiolute. 

2.  And  a*:  the  foul  is  thus  convinced  of  the  lU'cefii- 
t^-  of  CliriP.,  fo  alfo  of  his  full  fuinciency  :  he  fe;-s, 
iiiough  the  creature  cannot,  and  liimfclf  cannot,  yei 
Chriit  car;.  Thov.gh  the  Hg  leaves  tf  our  own  un- 
r»gi,t-:ous  rigi.teoninefA  are  too  fliort  to  cover  cur  nak- 
eclnefs,  yet  the  righteoufncfi  of  Chrift  is  large  enough  : 
fjurs  is  difproportionabie  to  the  juflice  of  the  law,  hut 
Chrifl's  drth  extt-na  to  every  tittle  :  hli,  fuflVrings  be- 
ing a  perfed-t fatisfaclion  to  tiie  law,  and  all  power  ii 
hswc-'n  and  carlh  U'iiigglxfn  to  liim^  h't  is  nuv/  abir.  to 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  77 

fupply  every  of  our  wants,  and  to  save  to  the  utmas!: 
all  that  come  to  him, 

3.  The  foul  is  alfo  here  convinced  of  the  perfeA 
excellency  of  Jefus  Chrifl,  both  as  he  is  confider- 
ed  in  himfelf,  and  as  conHdcred  in  relation  to  us  ; 
both  as  he  is  the  only  way  to  the  Father,  and  as  he  is 
the  end,  being  one  with  the  Father.  Before  he  kriew 
ChrifVs  excellency,  as  a  blind  man  knows  the  light  of 
the  fun  J  but  now  as  one  that  beholdeth  his  glory. 

And  thus  doth  the  Spirit  convince  the  foul. 

4.  After  this  fenfible  convicllon,  the  will  difcover- 
eth  alfo  its  change  ;  and  that  in  regard  of  all  tht 
foreiTientioned  objetls. 

1.  The  fin  which  the  underllanding  pronounceth 
evil,  the  will  deth  turn  from  with  abhorrency.  Not 
that  the  fenfitive  appetite  is  changed,  or  any  way 
made  to  abhor  its  cbjedl  ;  but  when  it  would  carry  us 
to  fin  againfl  God  j  this  difordcr  and  evil  the  will 
abhorreth. 

2.  The  mifery  alfo  which  fin  hath  procured,  as  he 
difcerneth,  fo  he  bcwaileth.  It  is  impoilible  that  tiic 
foul  now  living,  fhould  look  either  on  its  trefi:af5 
againd  God,  or  its  own  feif-procured  calamity,  with- 
out fome  compundlion.  He  that  truly  difcerneth, 
that  he  hath  killed  Chrift,  and  killed  himftlf,  v, ill 
furely    in  fome  meafure  be  pricked  to  the   heart,      if 

^he  cannot  weep,  he  can  heartily  groan  ;  and  his  heart 
feels  what  his  underitauding  fees. 

3.  The  creature  he  now  renounceth  tis  vain,  and 
turneth  it  out  of  his  heart  with  di'uyin.  Kct  ihathe 
imdervalucth  it  or  difclaiireth  its  uie  ;  bui  iti  itiol- 
atrous  abufe,  ;and  its  unjuH;  ufurpation. 

G   2 


J^8  The  SalntiP  EverUiHing  Rt^t. 

There  is  a  two-fold  error  very  comii-ion  in  tht  c!e- 
fcriptions  of  the  work  of  converfion.  The  one,  of 
thoi'e  who  only  mention  the  finiier's  turning  from  fin 
to  God,  without  raenticning  the  recei\ing  Clirifl  by 
faith.  The  other,  of  thofe  wjio  only  mention  a  fin- 
iier's believing,  and  then  think  they  have  faid  all  : 
Jiay,  they  blame  them  as  Lwgalifis,  who  make  any 
thing  but  tKe  bare  believing  of  the  love  of  God  in 
Chrifl  to  us,  to  be  part  of  the  work  ^  and  would  per- 
fuade  poor  fouls  to  queftion  all  their  former  comforts, 
and  conclude  the  work  to  have  been  only  legal,  be- 
cauie  they  have  made  their  change  of  heart  and  turn- 
ing from  fin,  part  of  it  ;  and  have  taken  up  part  of 
their  comfort  from  the  reviewing  of  thefe. 

Indeed,  fhould  they  take  up  here  without  Clirift, 
@r  tctke  fuch  a  chaiige  inftead  of  Chrifl-,  in  whole  or 
ill  p:at,  the  reprehenfion  were-  jufl:.  But  can  Chrift 
be  the  Avay,  where  the  creature  is  the  end  ;  is  he  not 
the  oaly  wuy  to  the  Father  ?  Can  we  feck  to  Chrift: 
to  reconcile  us  to  God,  while  in  our  hearts  we  prefer 
the  creature  before  him?  In  the  foul  of  every  unre- 
generatc  man,  die  creature  is  both  God  and  Chrifc. 
(]an  Ctirif:  be  believed  in,  where  our  own  righteouf- 
nel'jj  or  any  other  thing,  is  trufled  as  our  Saviour  ? 

Th?  trutl:  4^  :  as  turning  from  the  creature  to  God, 
aivJ  not  by  ChriO;;  is  no  true  turning;  fo  believing  in 
Chrifl,  v'hile  th'^  creature  hath  our  hearts,  is  no  true 
bcl  cving.  And  therefore  in  the  work  of  fclf-txa- 
minacion,  whoever  v/ould  find  in  himfcif  a  thorough 
iincere  woik,  mufi:  find  an  entire  work  ;  even  the  one 
of  thefe  as  well  as  tltt  other. 

In    the   revie- '    of  v^'hich  entire  work,  there   is  no 

doubt  bu^  hi-  foul  may  take  comfort.     And  it  is  not 

to  be  made  fo  light  of,  as  mo  ft  do,  tftat  fcripture  doth 

o  ordinarily   put  repentance   before  faith,  and  make 


a 

I 


The  Saints'*  Evcrla^tinjr  Rest, 


them  jointly  conditions    of  the  gofpcl  :   vhkh  rrncnt- 
ance  contains  thofe  acis  of  the  \\\\\  bcioi-e  expielTcd. 

It  is  true,  if  we  take  faith  in  the  largefl  fcnfr,  then 
it  contains  repentance  in  it  :  but  if^^•ctMke  it  iliitTtiy, 
no  doubt  there  are  fome  ads  of  it  go  before  repei.r- 
ance,  i;nd  foine  follow  after. 

4.  Aiui  as  the  will  is  thus  averted  froir,  tlefcrc- 
mentioned  objects  ;  fo  at  the  fame  t'.me  doih  it  cleave 
to  God  the  Father,  and  to  Chvifl.  Its  fufl  utftiiig 
confifls  cfpecir.lly  in  intending-  and  defining  God  for 
hh  portion  and  chief  good  ;  b.avip.g-  before  been  coj^.- 
vinced,  that  notliing  elie  can  be  his  happlneis,  he  now 
finds  it  in  God  :  and  therefore  looks  tov/ards  it. 
But  it  is  yet  rather  with  denre  thin  hope.  For  alas, 
the  finner  hath  already  found  himfelf  to  he  a  ftran^.er 
and  an  ei.eniy  to  God;  under  the  guilt  of  fin  a.-.d 
curftf  of  the  law,  and  knows  there  is  i.o  coming  to 
Iiim  in  peice  till  his  cafe  be  altered  ;  and  therefore 
having  before  been  conyinctd  alfo,  thrt  only  Chrifl 
is  able  and  willing  to  do  this,  and  having  heard  this 
incrcy  \n  the  ^^oi'pel  freely  offered  ;  his  next  acl  is, 
to  accept  of  Chrifl  as  his  Saviour  and    Lord. 

Tli'iitforc  bocJi  miftakc  :  they  who  cnly  mention 
our  turning  t9  Chi 'ft,  and  they  who  only  mention  cur 
turning  to  Gi.d  in-  this  work  of  converficn.  St. 
Pau4*s  preachinij  was  repentance  toivafcis  God,  and 
faith  to%vardi.mr  Loi  J.  Jesus  Chr'nt.  And  life  eternal 
coA.'istJifi'^st  in  Inotving  t lis  only  true  Qodi,  and  then 
Jefus  Chrid  ivhom  he  hath  sent,  John  xvii.  3.  'J'ii& 
foj;;;-ris  th.!  natural  ^..rtofthe  covenant,  to  take  the 
Loid  on'v  for  our  God.  The  latter  is  the  fu]X;r- 
natural  j.^rt  to  take  Crrifc  only  for  our  Redeemer. 
The  former  is  fi:/:  necifary,  and  in;plied  in  tlie  latter. 

Thon^h  repentance  and  good  works  are  required 
to  our  full jumfitaiion  at  juignreut,  as  fubfervient  to, 


so  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

or  concurrent  ^vith  failh  ;  yet  is  tke  n?.ture  of  this 
juOit'ying  faith  itlVlf  contaiucrd,  In  accepting  of  GLrill 
for  Saviour  and  Lord.  I  call  it  accepting,  it  being 
principally  an  adl  of  the  will  ;  but  yet  alfc  of  the 
"Nvl:ole  foul.  This  accepting  bein^;  that  \vhich  the 
gofpel  prelT^th  to,  and  calleth  the  receiving  or  ac- 
cepting Chiiil.  I  call  it  an  affedlionate  accepting, 
though  love  feem  diftinft  from  faith,  yet  I  take  it  as 
effential  to  that  faith  that  juftifies.  To  accept  Ghrifl 
Avithout  love,  is  not  juflifving  faith.  Nor  doth  love 
follow  as  a  fruit,  but  immediately  concur  ;  as  effential 
to  a  true  accepting. 

It  is  an  accepting  him  for  our  Saviour  and  Lord. 
For  in  both  relations  will  lie  be  received,  or  not  at  all. 
It  is  not  only  to  acknowledge  his  fufferings,  and  ac- 
cept of  pardon  and  glory,  but  to  acknowledge  his  fo- 
vereignty,  and  fubmit  to  his  government  and  way  of 
favUig. 

The  work  (which  Ghrift  thus  accepted  of,  is  to  per- 
form) is,  to  bring  the  finners  to  God,  that  they  may 
be  happy  in  him  ;  and  this  both  really  by  his  Spirit, 
and  relatively  in  reconciling  them,  and  making  them 
fons  ;  and  to  prefent  tlicm  perfe<5l  before  him  at  laft, 
and  to  poffefs  them  of  the  kingdom.  The  obtaining 
of  thefe  are  the  finner's  lawful  ends  in  receiving  Ghrift ; 
and  to  thefe  ules   cloth  he  offer  himfelf  to  us. 

5.  To  this  end  doth  the  finncr  now  enter  ii^to  a  cor- 
dial covenant  with  Ghrifc.  But  he  was  never  firidlly, 
nor  comfortably  in  covenant  with  Ghrift  till  now.  He 
is  fure  Ghrift  doth  cjnfent,  and  now  doth  he  cordially 
confcnt  himfelf  ;   and  fo  the  agreement  h  fully  made. 

6.  With  this  covenant  cencurs,  a  mutual  delivery  ; 
Ghrift  delivereth  hii-nfelf  in  all  ccmfortable  rtlations 
to  the  Tinner,  and  the  finner  delivereth  up  himlelf  to 
be  favcd  and  ruled  by  Ghrift,     Now  doth  the  foul  re- 


The  SainU'*  Everlasting  Rest,  8 1 

iolvedly  corxlude,  I  have  been  blindly  led  by  tbe  ficfli, 
the  world,  and  the  devil,  too  long,  sinioft  to  my  d?- 
ftruftion  ;  I  vnll  now  be  wholly  J^t  the  difpoful  f>f  iv.y 
Lord,  \vho  hath  bought  irje  v.-ith  his  blood,  and  vviil 
bring-  me  to  his  glory.  And  thus  the  ccmj^lete  work 
of  faving  faith  coniifieth  in  this  covenanting,  or  niyf- 
ticiri  marriage  of  theiinuer  to  Chrlfi. 

Thus  you  have  a  naked  enumeration  of  the  cfiVn- 
tials  of  this  people  of  Ged  ;  not  a  full  portraitLTie  of 
ttiem  in  all  their  excellencies,  nor  all  the  notes  wh'jrc- 
by  they  be  difcerned.  And  though  it  \vlll  be  pa:  t  cf 
the  following  application,  to  put  yoa  upon  trial  :  yet 
becaufe  the  dcfcription  is  now  before  your  tyes,  auH 
thefe  evidencing  works  are  fredi  in  your  memory,  it 
will  not  be  unfeafcnable,  to  take  an  account  of  your 
own  eflates,  and  to  vie*"  yourfelves  exa«Slly  in  this 
glafs,  before  you  pais.  And  I  befeech  thee,  reader, 
as  thou  hafl  the  hope  of  a  chriRian,  yea,  or  th«  rcafoM 
of  a  man,  to  deal  throughly,  and  fearth  carefury, 
and  judge  thyfelf  as  one  that  mufl  (liortly  be  judged 
by  the  righteous  God  :  and  feUthfuUy  anfwcr  to  thcTc 
few  quellions. 

And  fuTi,  hafi  tr.ou  been  thoroughly  convircc-d  (i 
an  ur.ivcrfal  deprivation,  through  thy  vhole  i'ocl  ? 
And  an  univi^rfal  wickcdnefs  thiough  thy  whole 
life  ?  and  hov*^  vile  a  thing  this  fm  is  ?  and  that  by  tl)e 
tenor  of  that  covv.nant  which  thou  h;ifl  tranfgieir^d^ 
the  leail:  fin  dcfeives  eternal  death?  Dofl  thou  c  .r.fcnt 
l?)  tills  law,  t!i?.t  it  is  true  and  righteous  I  Hall  tliou 
p:irceiv;;d  thyl'-if  feritenced  to  tliis  death  by  it,  ani 
been  convinced  of  thy  undone  condition  ?  Hail  th.-u 
further  fecn  the  vittci  infullicuncy  cf  eveiy  creature, 
eitlurtobe  itfelf  thy  ha])pinefi,  or  the  means  c fear- 
ing tills  thy  mifciy,  and  making  thee  h.ippy  iii 
God  ?  Kaft  thou  been  convinced,  that  tl.y  liapp:ntii> 
is  only  in  God  as  the  end?  ?aid  only  in  Chrift  as  tit:; 
T\'ay  to  him  ?  and  that  thou   TnuTt  be  brought  to    Gcd 


8«  The  Salnta^  Eterlasthi»  Rest. 


c* 


hy  Chrift,  or  pcrifli  eternally  ?  Haft  thou  {tfin  herciTp- 
on  an  ablblute  necefiity  of  enjoying  Clirift  ?  and  the 
lull  fnfliciency  that  is  in  him,  to  cio  for  thet  v.hatfo- 
ever  they  cafe  requiieth,  by  re.ifon  of  the  fulnefs  of  his 
fatisfuf^ion,  the  greatnefs  of  his  power,  the  dignity  of 
his  perfon,  and  the  frecnefs  of  his  promifes  ?  Haft 
thou  difcovered  the  excellency  of  this  pearl,  to  be 
worth  thy  ft-lling  all  to  buy  it  ?  Hath  all  this  been 
joined  with  fome  fenfibility  ?  As  the  convi»flions  of.i 
Kian  tliat  thirfteth,  of  the  worth  of  drink  ?  And  not 
been  only  a  change  of  opinion  produced  by  readijig* 
and  education,  as  a  bare  notion  in  the  undeiftaadiugf 
Hath  it  proceeded  to  an  abhorring  fin  ?  Have  both 
thy  fin  and  mile  ry  beer.  ?.  burden  to  thy  foul?  and  if 
thou  cor.ldft  Th^t  Avecp,  yet  coulJft  thou  groan  undef 
the  infupportable  -weight  of  both  ?  Haft  tlicu  renoun- 
ced all  thine  ov/n  righteoufnefs  ?  Haft  thou  turned 
thy  idols  out  of  thy  heart  ;  fo  that  the  creature  hath 
no  nivore  the  fG^ ereitnty  :  but  Gcd  and  Chrift  ?  Doft 
thou  accept  of  Chrift  as  thy  only  Saviour,  and  expeft 
thy  juftifcation,  recover)-,  and  glory  from  hini  alone  ? 
Doft  thou  take  him  alfo  for  Lord  and  King  ?  And  ar« 
liis  laws  the  moft  pov/erful  commanders  of  thy  foUl  ? 
Do  they  ordinarily  prevail  agalnft  the  commands  of 
the  ficih,  of  Satan^  of  the  greateft  on  e:irtii  that  ftiall 
countermand?  av.d  againit  the  intereft  cf  thy  Credit, 
prof.t,  pleaiure,  or  life  ?  So  that  thy  conftience  is  di- 
reaiy  jubj.a  to  Chrift  alone  r  Hath  he  the  higheft 
room  in  thy  affcclicus  ?  So  that  though  thou  canft  not 
love  Ivm  as  thou  woiildit,  yet  nothing  cUe  is  loved  fo 
much  i  Haft  tiiou  made  a  hearty  covenant  to  this  end  ? 
and  delivertd  upihyfeifto  him?  and  takeft  thyfelf  fof 
]iis,  and  not  thine  own?  Is  it  tliy  utmoft  care  and 
■watchful  endeavour,  tliat  then  maylt  be  f^und  faith- 
ful »ii  this  covcnauL?  If  this  be  truly  thy  cafe,  thoij 
art  one  of  the  people  of  God  :  and  as  fure  ;'s  the  pro- 
jniie  of  God  is  true,  tliis  bltlfed  reit  remains  for  thee. 
Only  fee  thou   abide   in    Chrift  nind   continue  to   the 


The  Saint^j^  Everlasting  Rest.  83 

rnd  ;  For  if  any  draiv  backy  his  soul  rvill  have  no  plea- 
surd  in  them. 


THE  CONCLUSION. 

And  rlnis  I  have  explained  to  you  the  rubjecfl  of  my 
text ,  and  fliewed  you  darkly,  Avhat  this  veil  is,  and 
brieriy  who  are  this  people  of  God.  O  that  the  Lord 
would  now  open  your  eyes,  to  difcern,  and  be  affeft- 
cd  with  the  glory  revealed  I  That  he  would  take  ofF 
your  hearts  from  thoic  dung-hill  delights,  and  tavilh 
tlieni  with  the  views  ofthelc  everlafling  pleafures  t 
That  he  would  bring*  you  into  the  ftate  of  his  holy 
and  heavenly  people,  for  whom  alone  this  rell:  re- 
maineth  !  That  you  would  exacSlly  try  yourfelvcs  by 
the  foregoing  defcription  !  That  no  foul  of  you  might 
be  fo  damnably  deluded,  as  to  take  your  natural  or 
acquired  parts,  for  the  charadlers  of  a  {\iint  I  O  hap- 
py, and  thrice  happy  you,  if  thefe  fermous  might  have 
fucli  fuccefs  with  your  fouls,  that  fo  you  might  dis  th<: 
death  of  the  righteous^  and  your  last  end  be  like  his  1 


End  of  the  First  Part, 


THE 
SAINTS'  EVERLASTING  RFST. 


PART     U. 
IIrdiews  Iv.   9. 


TTtcrc   remaincth   therefore  a   Kcsl   lo  the  People  #/ 
God, 


CHAP.    r. 

I  HAVE  been  liitlierto  prefentin^  to  your  mulcr- 
flandings,  the  excellency  of  the  Hcfl  of  the  Sainu. 
Let  your  hearts  now  cheerfully  embrace  it,  and  iui- 
prove  it,  and  1  fliall  prcf-nt  it  to  you,  in  iti  refpcc- 
tivc  ufes. 

I  Avlll  ]-4y  together  all  thofe  ulVs  that  moft  conccr;i 
the  ungodly,  and  then  thof«  that  arc  proper  to  the 
godly  theinfclves. 

The  inconceivable  misery  of  the  ini^odlj  in  t/icir  las:> 
of  this  Rest, 

And  firft,  if  this  reft  be  for  none  but  the  people  of 
God,  v/hat  tiding"?  is  tliis  t®  the  ungodly  world  ? 
That  there  is  fo  much  glory,  but  none  for  them  :  Co 
great  joys  for  the  faints  of  God,  whUc  they  mull 
confume  in  perpetual  forrows  !  If  thou  who  readelt 
thefc  words,  art  a  Granger  to  Chrift,  and  to  the  holy 
nature  and  life  of  his  i-xrople,  and  (Irak  live  and  die  in 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  »5 

the  condition  thou  art  ncAV  in  ;  I  am  a  mcffenger  of 
the  faddeft  tidings  to  thcc,  that  ever  yet  thy  ears  did 
hear  ;  that  thou  fliaic  never  partake  of  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven, nor  have  the  leaft  tafte  of  the  faints'  eternal  reft. 
I  may  fay  to  thee,  as  Ehud  to  Eglon  ;  I  have  a  meffage 
to  tht-e  from  Gt)d  :  but  it  is  a  mortal  mefVage,  that 
as  fure  as  the  word  of  God  is  true,  thou  (halt  never 
lee  the  face  of  God  with  comfort.  TJiis  fentence  I 
am  commanded  to  paPs  upon  th«e  1  Take  it  as  thou 
wilt,  and  efcape  it  if  thou  canft.  I  know,  if  thf 
heart  and  life  were  throughly  clianged,  thy  relation 
to  Ghrift  and  eternity  would  be  changed  alfo  ;  he 
Avould  then  acknowledge  thee  for  one  of  his  people, 
and  give  thee  a  portion  in  the  inheritance  of  his  cho- 
fen.  But  if  thou  end  thy  days  in  thy  prefent  condi- 
tion, as  fure  as  the  heavens  are  over  thy  head,  and  the 
ejlrth  under  thy  feet  :  as  fure  as  thou  liveft  and  breath- 
cfl  in  this  air,  fo  fure  Oialt  thou  be  fliut  out  of  this  reft 
of  the  faints,  and  receive  thy  portion  in  everlafting 
fire.  I  expe<fl  that  thou  fliouldfl  in  the  pride  of  thv 
heart  turn  upon  me,  and  fay,  and  when  did  God 
fliew  you  the  book  of  life,  or  tell  you  who  they  arc 
that  ihall  be  faved,   and  Avho  fliut  out  ? 

I  will  not  anfwer  thee  according  to  tliy  folly :  but 
plainly  difcover  this  thy  folly  to  thyfelf,  that  If  there 
be  yet  any  hope,  thou  mayeft  recover  thy  underdand- 
ing,  and  return  to  God  and  live  :  Firii,  I  do  not 
name  thee,  nor  any  other  ;  I  only  conclude  of  the 
unregenerate  in  g;eneral,  and  of  thee  conditionally,  if 
thou  be  fuch  an  one.  Secondly,  1  do  not  go  about  to 
determine  \A\o  fliidi  repent,  and  who  fhall  not,  much 
lefs,  that  thou  flialt  never  repent,  and  come  to  Chrift, 
Thefe  things  are  unknown  to  me  ;  I  had  far  rather 
[hew  thee  what  hopes  thou  haft  before  thee,  if  thou 
wilt  not  fit  fliU  and  lofe  them  :  and  I  would  far  rather 
perfiiade  thee  to  hearken  in  time,  before  the  door 
is  Taut  againft  thee,  that  fo  thy  foul  nitiy  return  and 
H 


86  Tlie  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest. 

live,  than  ttll  tliee  that  there  is  no  hope  of  thy  re- 
penting and  returning.  But  if  the  for»  going  deicrip- 
tion  of  the  people  of  Gcd  do  not  agree  with  thr  ftate 
of  thy  foul  ;  it  is  then  a  haid  qutllion,  whether  thou 
flialt  ever  be  faved  ?  Even  as  hard  a  queflion,  as  whe- 
ther God  be  true  ?  Do  I  need  to  afcend  up  into  hea- 
ven, to  know,  That  rjlthout  holiness  ncne  shall  see 
Gcd  F  or,  "That  only  the  pure  in  heart  shall  see  God  ? 
or,  That  eyxept  a  man  be  born  again^  he  cannot  tnter 
into  the  kingdom  of  God?  Cannot  thefe  be  known 
without  fearching  into  God's  councils  ?  And  yet  doft 
thou  afk  me,  how  I  know  who  fhall  be  faved  ?  What 
need  I  go  up  to  heaven  to  enquire  that  c  f  Chrift, 
which  he  came  down  to  earth  to  tell  us  ?  and  fent  his 
Spirit  in  his  prophets  and  apoft-es  to  tell  us  ?  and  hath 
left  upon  record  to  all  tlie  world  ?  And  though  I  do 
not  know  the  fecrets  of  thy  heart,  and  therefore  cannot 
tell  thee  by  name,  whether  it  be  thy  ftate,  or  no  ;  yet 
if  thou  art  but  willing  or  diligent,  thou  mayefl  know 
thyfelf,  whether  thou  art  an  heir  of  heaven,  or  not. 
And  that  is  the  main  thing  that  I  delire,  that  if  thou 
be  yet  miferable,  thou  mayeftdifcern  it,  and  efcape  it. 
But  canft  thou  efcape,  if  thou  negledl  Chrift  arjd  fal- 
vation  ?  If  thou  love  father^  mother^  tv If c^  children^ 
houses,  lands,  or  thine  oivn  life  better  than  Christ  ;  if 
so,  thou  canst  not  be  his  disciple.  And  coniequently  canft 
never  ht  faved  by  him.  Is  it  not  as  impolTible  for  thee 
to  be  f.ived,  except  thou  be  born  again^  as  it  is  for  the 
devils  thenifclves  to  be  faved  ?  Nay,  God  hath  more 
plainly  and  frequently  fp(>ken  it  in  the  fcripture,  that 
iuch  finners  as  thou  fhall  never  be  faved,  than  he  hath 
done,  that  the  devils  (hall  never  be  faved.  And  do 
not  thefe  tidings  go  cold  to  thy  heart  ?  methinks,  but 
that  there  is  yet  life  and  hope  before  thee,  and  thou 
haft  yet  time  and  means  to  have  thy  foul  recovered, 
the  fight  of  thy  cafe  fliould  even  ftrike  thee  dead  with 
amazement.  But  becaufe  I  would  fain  have  thee,  if 
it  be  pollible,  to  lay  it  to  heart,  I  will  here  ftay  a  lit- 
tle longer  and  ftiew  thee,  firft  the   greatnefs  of  thy 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  87 

lofs  ;  fccondly,  the  aggravations  of  thy  nnhripplncfs 
ill  this  Ids  ;  thirJUr,  the  pofitive  r;ifcnes  thut  thou 
muftejiJure,  wiih  their  agg-ravations. 

Firsts  The    ungodly  :n    their  lofs   of  heaven,  lofe 
all  that  glovioiis  pcrlbnal  pcrt'e£lion,  which   the   peo- 
ple   of  God    there    enjoy.       They    lofe   that    finning 
lu{\rc  of  the  body,  furpulTing  the    brightncfs    of  tha 
Inn.     Though  even    the  bodies  of  the  wicked  will  be 
railed  incorruptible,  yet  that  will  be   fo  far  from  be- 
iiig  happinefs  to  them  that  it  only  makes  them  cap?- 
ble  of  the  more  cxquirue  torments.      They  woulJ  be 
glad  then,  if  every  member  wjre  a  dead  meniber,  thnt 
it  might  not  feci  the  punilhment   inflifted  on  it  :    and 
the  whole  l)ody  were  a  rotten  carc.-ife,  or  might  agui'i 
lie  down  in  duf\  and  daiknel"'.      Much  more  dd  they 
want  tint  moral  perfection  which  the  blcfl'ed  par:ake 
of;  thofe  holy  dilpofitlons  ;   that  hlelVed    ccmioviT'-ity 
to  the  holineis  of  God  ;   that  cheerful  readinefs  to  do 
his  will  ;    that  perfed  rccilitude    of  all  their  actions  : 
inftead  of  thefe,   they  have  their  old  ulcerous  deform- 
ed fouls,  that    perverfen.Ms  of   will,  that  diforder  i;i 
their  faculties,  that  loathing   of   good,  that    love    to 
evil,  that  violence  of  paflion,  v/hich  they  had  on  earth. 
It  is  true,  their  underilandings  will  be  much  cleared, 
both   by    the    ceaiii-ig  of  temptation  and  deluding  ob- 
jecfls,   and   by  the    fad  experience  which  they  will  l-.avc 
in  hell,  of  the  falfchood  of  their  former  conceits  and 
dclufions.      But  the   evil  difpolition  is  never  the  more 
changed  ;    they    have    th.e    fame  dilpofitions  ilill,  and 
fain  would  commit    the  fame  lins  if  they  could  ;   they 
want  but  opportunity  :   certainly  they  Ihall  have  none 
of  the  glorious    perfe<^ions    of  the  faints,     either  in 
foul  or  body.      'Inhere  will  be  a  greater  difference  be- 
tween thefe  wretches  and  the  glorified  chriftians,  than 
th.ere  is  betwixt  a  toad  and  the  fun  in  the  firmament. 

But  the  great  lofs  of  the  damned,  will  be  their  lofs 
©f  God,  they  fhall    have   no   comfortabJe    relation  t« 


88  Tiig  Saints'*  Ever  kiting  J^cst, 

him  :  nor  communion  with  l,im.  As  they  did  net  likt 
io  retain  God  in  ihcir  knoti'ledge  ;  but  bid  him,  depart 
JrovA  us.,  nve  dtsire  not  the  knotvlidge  of  thy  rjqys  ;  fo 
Gccl  will  abhor  to  retain  them  in  1/is  he  urehold,  cr 
to  give  them  entertainrricr.t  in  his  fellow fliip  ap.d  {^lo- 
ry. He  will  never  admit  them  to  the  inheritance  of 
his  faints,  nor  endure  them  to  ftancl  ^mongft  them  in 
his  prefencc*  :  but  bid  them,  depart  f rem  Me.  ye  tvork- 
ers  of  iniquity^  I  hnonv ye  not.  Now  ihefe  men  dare 
Dflj-  the  Lord,  if  not  blafpheme,  in  calling  him  by 
the  title  of  their  Father  ;  hew  boldly  and  confidently 
do  they  daily  approach  him  with  their  lips,  and  indeed 
reproach  him  in  their  formal  prayers,  with  that  appel- 
lation ?  As  if  God  would  father  the  devil's  ehildren  ; 
or,  as  if  the  iligiiteis  of  Chriil,  the  friends  of  the  world, 
the  haters  of  godlinefs,  or  any  that  delight  in  iniquity, 
"i\'ere  the  offspring  of  heaven  I  They  are  ready  now^, 
to  lay  confident  claims  to  Chrift,  as  if  they  were  fm- 
cere  believers.  But  when  that  time  is  come,  and 
Chrift  will  feparate  his  followers  from  his  foes,  and 
his  faithful  friends  from  his  deceived  flatterers,  where 
then  will  b<^  their  prefumptucus  claim?  Then  tlvsy 
..{liall  find  that  God  is  not  their  i'atber,  but  their  foe, 
becaufe  they  would  not  be  his  people.  And  as  they 
^vould  not  confent  that  God  fliould  by  his  Spirit  dweli 
in  them,  fo  fliall  not  thefe  evil  doers  dwell  with  him ; 
the  tabernacles  of  wickednefs  fliall  have  no  fellowfliip 
with  him  ;  nor  the  wicked  inhabit  the  city  of  God  ; 
*'  for  without  are  dogs,  foircerers,  whoremongers,  mur- 
derers, idolaters,  and  whatfoever  loveth  and  makcth  a 
Jie/'  God  is  firft  ejijoyed  in  part  on  earth,  before  he  b« 
fully  enjoyed  in  heaven.  It  is  only  '.^hcy,  that  "walked 
with  him  here,  who  IJrall  live  and  be  happy  with  him 
■^here.  Oh.  little  doth  the  world  know  what  a  lols  that 
ibul  hath,  who  lofeth  God  1  What  were  the  world  but 
a  dungeon,  if  it  had  l(;fl  the  fun  ?  What  were  the  body, 
but  a  loathlbme  carrion,  if  it  had  lofl  the  foul  ?  Vet 
all  thefe  are  nothing  to  tlie  lofs  of  God.  So  that  a?i 
the  enjoyment  of  God  is  the  heaven  of  the  faints  ;    fo 


f 


The  Salnti^  Everlasting  Rest,  89 

the  lofs  of  God  is  the  Iiell  of  the  iin-voclly.  Ai^d  as 
the  enjoyii^:^  of  God  is  the  enjoying-  of  all  ;  lb  the  lots 
of  God  is  the  lofs  of   all. 

Thirdly^  As  they  lofe  God,  fo  they  lofe  all  thofe 
dclighiful  affedlions  and  acftions,  hy  which  the  blelfed 
feed  on  God  ;  tliat  tranfporting  knowledge:  thofc 
ravidiinp^  views  of  his  p;ioiious  facr  :  the  inconccivr.- 
ble  plcafure  of  loving  G'-.d  ;  the  apprehenfions  of  his 
infinite  love  to  us  :  the  conftant  jcys  which  his  faints 
are  taken  up  with,  and  the  vi\ers  of  conibiation 
wherevrith  he  doth  fatisfy  them.  Is  it  nothing  to  lofe 
all  this  ?  The  employment  of  a  king  in  ruling  a  king- 
dom, doth  not  fo  far  exceed  the  employment  of  the 
vilefl:  Have,  as  this  heavenly  employment  exceedcth  his. 

Fourthlj,  T'ncy  fhall  be  deprived  of  the  bleffed  fo- 
cietyof  angels  and  glorified  faints.  Jnftead  of  being 
companions  of  thofe  happy  fpirits,  and  numbered  wltii 
ihofe  joyful  and  triumphing  kings,  they  muft  now  be 
members  of  the  coniporation  of  hell,  where  they  fliaJI 
have  companions  of  a  far  different  nature.  While 
they  lived  on  earth,  they  loathed  the  faints,  they  im- 
prifoned,  baniflied  them,  and  caft  them  out  of  their 
focieties,  or  at  leafl  they  would  not  be  th.eir  compa- 
nions in  labour  and  in  fufferings  ;  and  therefore  they 
fliall  not  now  be  their  companions  in  th.eir  glory. 
Now  you  ar«  flmt  out  of  that  company,  from  which 
you  firfl  fliut  out  yourfelves  ;  and  are  feparated  from 
them  whom  you  v^ould  not  be  joined  with.  You 
could  not  endure  them  in  your  houfes,  nor  in  your 
town,  nor  fcarce  in  the  kingdom  ;  you  took  them  as 
Ahab  did  Elias,  for  the  t7-oub!ers  of  the  land  ;  and  ns 
the  apodles  were  ^aken  for  vich  that  turned  the  world 
upside  down  :  if  any  thing  fell  out  amifs,  you  thought: 
all  was  through  them.  When  they  were  dead  or  ba- 
nifhed,  you  were  glad  they  were  gone  ;  and  thought 
the  country  was  well  rid  of  them.  They  moleOed  you 
with  their  faithful  reproving  your  fin;  their  holy  con- 
H  2 


90  The  Saints''  Everla-ating  Rest, 

verfation  troubled  you.  You  fcarce  ever  heard  them 
pray  or  ling  pralfcs  in  their  families,  but  it  was  a  vex- 
ation to  you  ;  and  you  envied  tl>eir  liberty  of  worfliip- 
ping  God.  And  is  it  then  ajiy  -wonder  if  you  be  fe- 
parated  from  them  hereafter  !  The  day  is  near  ^\\\\t\^ 
they  will  trouble  you  nomorfc  ;  betwixt  them  and  yon 
>vill  be  a  great  gulf  fet,  that  thufe  that  would  pais 
from  the:ic«  to  you  (if  any  had  a  delire  to  eafc  you 
Tvith  a  drop  of  water)  cannot,  neither  can  they  pafc 
to  them,  who  would  go  from  you. 


CHAP.     II. 

The    Aggravation    of  the    Loss    of  Heaven  to 
the  Ungodly. 

I  KNOW  many  will  be  ready  to  think,  if  this  be  all, 
,  they  do  not  much  care  :  what  care  they  for  lofing 
the  perfeclions  above  ?  What  care  they  for  lofmg 
God,  his  favour,  or  his  prefcnce  ?  They  lived  mer- 
rily without  him  on  earth,  and  why  iiiould  it  be  fo 
grievous  to  be  without  him  hereafter  ?  and  what  care 
they  for  being  deprived  of  that  love,  and  joy,  and 
praifnig  of  God  ?  They  never  tafted  fwcetnefs  in  the 
things  of  that  nature  ;  or  what  care  they  for  being  de- 
prived of  the  fellowfliip  of  angels  and  faints?  They 
could  fpare  their  company  in  this  world  well  enough, 
and  why  may  they  not  be  without  it  in  the  world  to 
iome  ?  To  make  thefe  men  therefore  underRand  the 
truth  of  their  future  condition,  I  will  here  annex  thefe 
two  things. 

1.  I  will  fhew  you  why  this  lofs  will  be  intolera- 
ble, and  moil  tormenting  tlitn,  though  it  feem  ;*s  ro- 
thipg  liow. 


.    The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest.  9i 

2.  I  will  flicw  you  wliat  other  lofTes  will  accompai-iv 
thefe  ;  which,  though  they  arc  lefs  in  theinielvcs,  yet 
will  now  be  more  fenfibly  apprehended. 

1.  Then,  That  this  lofs  of  heaven  will  be  mofl  tor- 
menting-, may  appear  by  thefe  conliderations. 

1.  The  underftnndings  of  the  ungodly  will  be  then 
cleared,  to  know  the  worth  of  that  which  they  have 
loft.  Now  they  lament  not  their  lofs  of  God,  becaufe 
they  never  knew  his  excellency,  nor  the  lofs  of  that 
holy  employment  and  fociety,  for  they  were  never 
fenfible  what  they  were  worth.  A  man  that  hath  loft 
a  jewel  and  took  it  but  for  a  common  ftone,  is  never 
troubled  at  his  lofs  ;  but  when  he  comes  to  know  what 
he  has  loft,  then  he  lamenteth  it. 

Though  the  underftandings  of  the  damned  will  riot 
then  be  fanclified  ;  yet  will  they  be  cleared  from  a 
multitude  of  errors.  They  think  now  that  their  ho- 
nour, their  eftates,  their  pleafures,  their  health  and 
life,  are  better  worth  their  labour,  than  the  things  of 
another  world  ;  but  when  thefe  things  which  had  their 
hearts,  have  left  them  in  mifery,  when  they  know  by 
experience,  the  things  which  before  they  did  but  read 
and  hear  of,  they  will  be  quite  in  another  mind. 
They  would  not  believe  that  water  would  drov^n,  till 
they  were  in  the  lea;  nor  that  the  fire  atouM  burn, 
.till  they  were  caftinto  it  ;  but  when  they  feel  it,  they 
•will  eafily  believe.  All  that  error  of  their  mind,  which 
made  them  fet  light  by  God,  and  abhor  his  worfliip, 
and  vilify  his  people,  will  then  be  removed  by  experi- 
ence ;  their  knowledge  (hall  be  increafed,  tliat  their 
forrows  may  be  increafed.  Doubtlefs  thofe  poor  fouls 
would  be  comparatively  happy,  if  th°ir  underftandings 
were  wholly  taken  from  them,  if  they  had  no  more 
knowledge  than  idiots,  or  brute  bealis  ;  or  if  they 
knew  no  more  in  hell,  than  they  did  upon  earth,  their 
lofs  and  mifcrv  would  then  lefs  trouble  them. 


92  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

How  happy  V.-'  nil  they  now  thin!  h  -irifclves,  if 
th.  y  did  not  kr  ov.  tl:- re  ii  Tuch  h  plac- as  heaven  ? 
N<nv  when  thrlr  ;  iu:\vled^£  \vf  i,!d  h..i..  u  p  «  \(nt  their 
m'.ieiy,  they  wiil  n;-*t  know  :  but  then  \vh<:rn  their  know- 
Icdi'c  will  but  R-d  their  cowiunjing  fire,  they  fliall 
know  wliclhcr  they  will  or  no. 

2.  The  lofs  of  heaven  will  more  torment  them  then, 
becanfe,  as  the  nndcrHanding  will  be  cleared,  fo  it 
will  he  more  enlarp;ed,  and  made  more  capacious,  to 
conceive  of  the  worth  of  that  glory  v.hich  they  have 
lofl.  The  flrengtii  of  their  apprehcnncns,  as  well  as 
the  truth  of  them,  will  then  be  increafed.  What 
deep  apprehenfiops  of  the  wrath  of  God,  of  the  mad- 
iieis  of  finning,  of  the  mlfery  of  finners,  have  thefc 
fouls  that  now  endure  this  mifery,  in  comparifon  o 
thofe  on  earth  that  do  hut  hear  of  it  ?  What  fenfible 
apprehenfions  of  ihe  worth  of  life,  hath  the  condemn- 
ed man  that  is  going  to  be  executed,  in  comparifon 
of  what  he  was  went  to  have  in  the  time  of  his  prof- 
perity  ?  Much  more  will  the  adlual  deprivation  of 
eternal  blellednel's  make  the  damned  exceedingly  appre- 
her.five  of  the  greatnefs  of  their  lofs  :  and  as  a  large 
vciTcl  will  hold  more  water  than  a  fliell,  fo  will  their 
more  enlarged  underflandings  contain  more  matter  to 
feed  their  torment,  than  how  their  fliallow  capacity 
can  do. 

3.  And  as  the  damned  will  have  deeper  apprehen- 
fions of  th:-  hap])inofs  they  have  lofr,  fo  will  they  have 
a  clofer  application  of  this  dod\rijie  to  themfelves, 
which  will  exceedingly  tend  to  increafe  their  torment. 
It  will  then  be  no  hard  matter  for  them  to  fay,  this 
is  my  lofs,  and  this  is  my  everlafting  mifery.  I'he 
want  of  this  is  the  main  caufe  why  they  are  now  fo 
little  troubled  at  tluMr  coiidition  :  they  are  hardly 
brought  to  believe  that  there  is  fuch  a  ftate  of  mifery, 
but  more  hardly  to  believe  that  it  is  like  to  be  their 
©wn.     This  nukes  fo  many  fermons  to  be  lolt,  and 


The  Saints''  Everlaiti7iz  Rest 


i> 


al4  threat'?ning-s  and  warnings  prove  in  vain.  Let  a 
ii.inifter  of  Chriri  fhcw  them  their  milery  never  To 
plainly,  they  will  not  be  perfur4ded  th.at  they  are  fo 
iniferable.  Let  him  tell  them  of  the  gloiy  they  myll 
lofe,  and  the  fLifTcrings  they  mull  ftel,  and  they  think 
h  is  not  they  whom  he  means.  We  find  in  all  cur 
preaching,  by  fad  experience,  that  it  is  one  of  the  hard- 
ell  things  in  the  world  to  bring  a  wicked  man  to  know 
that  he  is  wicked  ;  a  man  that  is  in  the  way  to  hell, 
to  know  that  he  is  in  that  way  ;  or  to  make  a  man  fee 
himfelf  in  a  ftate  of  wrath  and  condemnation  :  how 
feldom  do  we  hear  men,  after  the  plained  difcovery  of 
their  condemned  ftate,  cry  out,  I  am  the  man  I  or  to 
acknowledge,  that  if  they  die  in  their  prefont  conditi- 
on, they  are  undone  for  ever. 

There  is  no  perfuadiiig  men  of  their  mifery  till  they 
feel  it,  except  the  Spirit  of  the  Almighty  periuade 
.them. 

Oh,  but  when  they  find  themfelves  fuddenly  in  the 
land  of  darknefs,  perceive  by  the  execution  of  the  fen- 
tence  that  they  v/ere  indeed  condemned,  and  feel  them- 
felves in  the  fcorching  flames,  and  fee  thatth?y  are  dmt 
out  of  the  pvL^ence  of  God  for  ever,  it  will  then  be  no 
fuch  difficult  matter  to  convince  them  of  their  mifery  : 
this  particular  application  of  God's  ang-er  to  them- 
felves, will  then  be  the  ealieft  matter  in  the  world  ; 
then  they  cannot  choofe  but  know  and  apply  it,  whe- 
ther they  will  or  no. 

4.  Again,  as  the  underllandings  and  confciences 
of  linners  will  be  flrengthened,  fo  will  their  affections 
be  more  lively  and  enlarged  :  as  judgment  will  be  no 
longer  blinded,  nor  confcience  Itilied,  fo  the  affedti- 
ons  will  be  no  longer  ftupified.  A  hard  heart  now 
makes  heaven  and  hell  feem  but  trifles":  and  v»  hen  we 
iiave  flievv'ed  them  everlafting  glory  and  mifery,  they 
are  as  men  half  aileep,  they  fcarce  take  nctlce  what; 


94  The  Sa'int.^''  Everlasting  Rest, 

we  fay,  our  wercb  are  caft  as  ftones  againfl  a  iiard 
"vvall,  which  fly  back  in  the  face  of  h\\n  that  cafknh 
them.  We  talk  of  tenihlc  ailoniniiiig  things,  but  it 
is  to  dead  men  that  cannot  apprehend  it  :  we  fpeak 
to  rocks  rather  than  to  men  :  the  earth  will  as  foon 
tremble  as  they.  But  v/hen  thefe  dead  wretches  arc 
revived,  what  pafiionate  fenfibility  I  vfhat  working 
affeclions  !  what  pan.'^s  of  horror  I  what  depth  of  for- 
row  will  there  then  be  !  How  violently  will  they  fly- 
in  tkeir  own  faces  I  How  will  they  rage  againft  their 
foimer  uiadnefs  I  The  lamentations  of  the  moil  pafli- 
onate  wife  for  the  lofs  of  her  hufband,  or  of  the  ten- 
dered mother  for  the  lofs  of  her  children,  v.-ill  be  no- 
thijig-  to  theirs  for  the  lofs  of  heaven.  Oh,  the  felf- 
acculing,  and  felf-tormcnting  fury  of  thofe  forloxTi 
wretches  1  How  they  will  even  tear  their  own  hearts, 
and  be  God's  executioners  upon  thernfelves  1  T  am 
perfuaded,  as  it  was  none  but  thernfelves  that  com- 
mitted the  Gn,  and  thernfelves  that  were  the  meritori- 
ous caufe  of  their  faiTcrings,  fo  themfelves  will  be  the 
chief  executioners  of  thofe  fufferings  ;  God  will  have 
it  fo  for  the  clearing  of  his  juftice  :  even  Satan  him- 
£<:\i^  as  he  was  not  ib  great  a  caufe  of  th^ir  finning  as 
thernfelves,  fo  will  he  not  be  fo  great  an  inRrument 
of  their  torment.  How  happy  would  you  think  your- 
felves  then,  if  you  were  turned  into  rocks,  or  any- 
thing that  had  neither  paiilon  nor  fenfe  !  How  happy 
were  you,  if  you  could  now  feel,  as  lightly  as  you 
were  wont  to  hear  !  and  if  you  could  ileep  out  the 
time  of  execution,  as  you  did  the  time  of  ti-e  fermons 
that  warned  you  of  it  ?  But  your  frupidity  is  gone,  it 
will  not  be. 

5.  Moreover,  it  will  much  increaPe  the  torment  of 
the  damned,  that  th^ir  memories  will  be  as  large  and 
ftrong  as  their  underflandings  and  afl"e(flions.  Were 
thiir  lofs  never  fo  great,  and  their  fenfe  of  it  never  fo 
paiTionate,  yet  if  they  could  but  lofe  t!;t;  ufe  of  the'.r 
memory,  thofe   paifions  would  die,  and  that  lofs,  be- 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting   Rest,  ^5 

ing  forgotten,  would  little  trouble  thein.  But  as 
they  cannot  lay  by  tb.eir  life  and  being,  fo  neither 
can  they  lay  afide  anv  part  of  that  being.  Und;:r- 
ftanding,  confcience,  aifecfiions,  :nemory,  nnifl  all  live 
to  torment  them,  which  fliould  have  helped  to  their 
happinefs.  And  as  by  thefe  they  ftiould  have  fe^  up- 
on the  love  of  God,  and  drawn  forth  perpetually  the 
joys  of  his  prcfence  ;  fo  by  thefe  nTufi:  they  now  feed 
upon  the  wrath  of  God,  and  draw  forth  continually 
the  pains  of  his  abfence. 

And  yet  thefe  men  would  never  be  brought  to  con- 
fiuer  ;  but  in  the  latter  days  (faith  the  Loi  d)  they 
lliall  pcrfe<flly  confider  it  :  when  they  are  enfnaredia 
the  work  of  their  own  hands  :  v/hen  God  hath  arreft- 
ed  them,  and  judgment  is  pr.ffed  upon  them,  and  ven- 
geance is  poured  out  upon  them  to  the  full,  then  they 
cannot  choofe  but  confider  it,  whether  tliey  w  ill  or  no. 
Now  they  have  no  leifure  to  confider,  nor  any  room 
in  their  memories  for  the  things  of  another  life.  But 
then  they  fhall  have  leifure  enough,  they  Ihall  be 
where  they  have  nothing  elfe  to  do  ;  their  memories 
fliall  have  no  other  employment,  it  (hall  be  engraven 
upon  the  tables  of  their  hearts.  God  would  have 
had  the  dodlrine  of  their  eternal  ftate  to  have  been 
written  on  the  pods  of  their  doors,  on  their  houfes,  on 
their  hands,  and  on  their  hearts  :  and  feeing  they  re- 
jected this  counfel  of  the  Lord,  therefore  fliall  it  be 
written  always  before  them  in  the  pldce  of  their  thral- 
dom, that  wiiich  way  foev«r  they  look,  they  may  ftiU 
behold  it. 

I  will  briefly  lay  down  fomc  of  thofe  confiderati- 
ons,  which  will  thus  feed  the  anguilh  of  tlicfe  damn- 
ed wretches. 

1.  It  will  torment  them  to  th"nk  of  the  greatnefs  of 
the  glory  which  they  have  lofl.  O  if  it  had  been  that 
which  they  could  have  fpared,  it  had  been  a  fmall  mat- 


96  The  Saints''  Ever  lasting  Rest, 

ter  :  Or,  if  it  had  been  a  lofs  reparable  with  any  thing 
elfe  ;  if  it  had  been  health,  or  wealth,  or  friends,  or 
life,  it  had  been  nothing;  feut  to  lofe  that  exceeding 
and  eternal  weiglit  ef  glory  ! — 

2.  It  will  torment  them  to  think  of  the  pofTibility 
that  once  they  were  in  of  obtaining  it.  I'hen  they 
will  remember,  the  time  was,  when  I  was  in  as  fair  a 
pofiibility  of  the  kingdom,  as  others  ;  I  was  fet  upon 
the  ftage  of  the  world  ;  if  I  had  played  my  part  wifely 
iind  faithfully,  now  I  might  have  had  poffeflion  of  the 
inheritance  ;  I  might  have  been  amongft  yonder  blefl*- 
ed  faints,  who  am  now  tormented  with  thefe  damned 
fiends  !  The  Lord  did  fet  before  me  life  and  death, 
and  having  chofen  death,  I  deferve  to  fnffer  it  :  the 
prize  was  once  held  out  before  me  ;  if  I  had  run  well, 
I  might  have  obtained  it  :  if  I  had  driven,  I  might 
have  had  the  rnaitery  ;  if  I  had  fought  valiantly,  I  had 
been  crowned. 

3.  It  will  yet  m.ore  torment  them  to  remember,  not 
only  the  poiTibility,  but  the  great  probability  that 
once  they  were  in,  to  obtain  the  crown.  It  will  then 
wound  them,  to  think  :  why,  I  had  once  the  gales 
of  the  Spirit  ready  to  have  alTifled  me.  I  was  fully 
purpofed  to  have  been  another  m.an^  to  have  cleaved 
to  Chrift,  and  to  have  forfook  the  world  ;  I  was  al- 
moft  refolved  to  have  been  wholly  for  God  :  I  had 
even  cafl;  off  my  old  companions,  and  yet  I  turned 
back,  and  loft  my  hold,  and  broke  my  promifes,  and 
flc-iCked  my  purpofes  ;  ainfdft  God  had  perfuaded  me 
to  be  a  real  ciiriftian,  and  yet  I  conquered  thofe  per- 
iHafioHs.  What  working?  were  in  my  heart,  when 
a  faithful  minifter  prelTed  home  the  truth  !  O  how 
fair  v/as  I  once  for  heaven  !  I  had  almoft  had  it,  and 
yet  I  have  loft  it ;  if  I  had  but  followed  on  to  feek 
the  Lord,  and  blown  up  the  fparks  of  defre  which 
were  kindled  in  me,  1  had  now  been  blelTed  among 
the  faints. 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  97 

4.  Yet  fiK-ther,  it  will  much  add  to  their  torment 
to  remember  that  God  Jiimlclt'  did  condeicend  to  en- 
treat them  :  how  long  he  did  wait,  how  iVeely  lie  did 
oifer,  how  lovingly  he  did  invite,  and  how  importu- 
nately he  did  folicit  them  I  how  the  Spirit  did  con- 
tinue driving  with  their  hearts,  as  if  he  were  loth  to 
take  a  denial  :  how  Chrift  flood  knocking  at  the  door 
of  their  hearts,  fermon  after  fermon,  and  one  fabbath 
after  another ;  crying  out,  open,  finner,  open  thy 
heart  to  the  Saviour,  and  I  will  come  in  and  sup  with 
thee  and  thou  with  me.  Why  doft  thou  thus  delay  ? 
What  dofl:  thou  mean,  that  thou  doft  not  open  to  me  ? 
How  long  fliall  it  be  till  thou  attain  to  innocency  ? 
How  long  shall  thy  vain  thouglits  lodge  within  thee  ! 
Wo  to  thee,  O  unworthy  funier  1  Wilt  thou  not  be 
made  clean  ?  Wilt  thou  not  be  pardoned  andfandifi- 
ed,  and  ma^e  kappy  ?  When  Ihall  it  once  be  ?  O  that 
thou  wouldlt  hearken  to  my  word,  and  obey  my  gofpel  I 
**  Then  fliould  thy  peace  be  as  the  river,  >nd  thy  rigli- 
teoufnefs  as  the  waves  of  the  fea  :  though  thy  fins  were 
as  red  as  crimfon,  I  would  make  them  as  white  as  the 
fnow  :  O  that  thou  were  but  wife  to  confider  this  !  and 
that  thou  wouldfl  in  time  remember  thy  latter  end,  be- 
fore the  evil  days  come  upon  thee,  and  the  years  dra%v" 
nigh,  when  thou  flialt  fay  of  all  thy  vain  delights,  I 
have  no  pleafure  in  them  1"  Why  finner!  fhall  thy 
Maker  thus  befpeak  thee  in  vain  ?  Shall  the  God  of 
all  the  world  befeech  thee  to  be  happy,  and  beieecli 
thee  to  have  pity  upon  tbine  own  foul,  and  wilt  thou 
not  regard  him  ?  Why  did  he  make  thy  ears  but  to 
hear  his  voice  ?  Why  did  he  make  thy  underftandnig, 
but  to  cosfidcr?  Or  tliy  heart,  but  to  entertain  the 
Son  in  love  ?  Thus  sail h  the  Lord  of  hostsy  consider 
thj>  wajs. 

O  how  all  thefe  paflionate  pleadings  of  Chrifl  will 
paflionately  tranfport   the  damned  with  felf-indigna- 
tion  1  That  they  will  be  ready  to   tear  out  their  own 
1 


*>S  The  Saints^  Evvrlastlnz  R§st. 


a 


hearts  !  How  freth  will  the  rememberance  of  them  b€ 
ftill  in  their  minds,  lancing  their  Ibuls  with  renewed 
torments  ?  what  ielf  condemning  pjHigs  will  it  raife 
within  them,  to  renaember  how  oft  Chrill:  would  have 
gathered  them  to  liimfelf  even  as  the  lien  gatJiercth  her 
chickens. under  her  rjings^  but  they  Kvoiild  not  ?  Then 
will  they  cry  out  againd  theinfelves,  how  juftiy  is  all 
this  befallen  me  !  Muft  I  tire  out  the  patience  of 
Ch!  id  ?  Mufh  I  make  the  God  of  heaven  to  follow  m« 
in  vain,  till  I  had  wearied  him  with  crying  to  me,  re- 
pent^  return?  Mufl  the  Lord  of  all  the  world  thui 
wait  upon  me,  and  all  in  vain  ?  O  how  juftly  is  that 
patience  now  turned  into  fury,  which  falls  upon  my 
foul  with  irrefillible  violence  !  when  the  Lord  cried 
out  to  me  in  his  word,  Hoiv  long  will  it  be  before  tliou 
iwilt  be  made  clean  and  holy  7  My  heart,  or  at  ieait  my 
praclJcc  aniwered,  never  ;  I  will  never  be  ib  precile  : 
and  now  when  I  cry  out,  how  long  will  it  be  till  I 
b-e  freed  from  this  torment,  and  faved  with  the  faints  I 
how  JLiiUy  do  I  receive  the  anfwer  i  never^  never  ! — 
Oh  fmner,  I  befeech  thee  for  thy  own  fake,  think  of 
this  while  the  voice  of  mercy  foundeth  in  thine  ears  1 
Yet  patience  continueth  waiting  upon  thee  :  canft 
thou  think  it  will  do  fo  ftill  ?  Yet  the  offers  of  Chrlfl 
and  life  are  made  to  thee  in  the  gofpel,  and  the  hand 
of  God  is  ftretched  out  to  thee  :  but  will  it  ftill  be 
thus  ?  The  Spirit  hath  not  yet  done  ftriving  with  thy 
heart  :  but  doft  thou  know  how  foon  he  may  turn 
away,  and  give  thee  over  to  a  reprobate  mind?  Thou 
haft  yet  life,  and  time,  and  ftrength,  and  means  ;  but 
doft  thou  think  that  this  life  will  always  laft  ?  Oh,  seek 
the  Lord  while  he  maybe  founds  and  call  upon  him 
".vhile  he  is  near :  he  that  hath  an  ear  to  hear ^let  him  hear 
what  Chrift  now  fpeaketh  to  his  foul.  And  to-day^ 
while  it  is  called  to-day^  harden  notyour  hearts^  lest 
he  swear  in  his  wrath  that  you  shall  never  enter  into 
his  rest.  For  ever  bleffed  is  he,  that  hath  a  hearing; 
he-art  and  ear,  while  Chrift  hath  a  calling  voice. 


The  Saints''  Svfr lasting  Rest.  9<J 

5.  Again,  it  ^vlll  be  a  mofi  cutting'  confidevatioM 
to  thefe,  to  remember  on  what  eafy  tiirxna  they  might 
have  cfcaped  their  miiery.  If  their  ^vork  had  been  to 
remove  mountains,  to  conquer  kingdoms,  then  the 
impoliibility  would  iomev.hat  hffuage  the  rage  cf  their 
lelf  accufing  confcience.  If  their  conditions  for  hea^ 
ven  had  becn>  the  fatiofylng  of  ju (lice  for  all  thelt 
traiifgrelTions,  the  fulTering  of  all  the  law  did  lay  up- 
on them,  or  bearing  the  burden  which  Chrift  v.  us  fain 
to  bear  ;  thii  were  nothing  but  tofuffcr  hell  to  cfcape 
hell.  Bat  tljeir  conditions  were  of  ano:hei-  nature. 
The  yoke  was  light  and  t!ie  burden  \vas  eafy,  whicli 
Jefus  Chrifl  would  have  laid  upon  them  j  liis  com- 
niaridmtnts  were  not  grievous.  It  was  but  to  rtpent 
and  accept  him  as  their  Saviour  ;  to  lludy  his  will,, 
and  leek  his  face  ;  to  renounce  all  other  happhiels,  but 
that  which  he  procureth  us,  and  to  take  the  Lord 
alone  for  our  fupreme  good  ;  to  renounce  the  govern- 
ment of  the  v/orld  and  the  ficfli,  and  to  fubmlt  to  his 
merrk  and  gracious  government  ;  to  forfake  the  v/ay« 
cf  cur  ov,'n  devifing,  and  to  walk  in  his  holy  de- 
lightful way  ;  to  engage  ou.r4elves  to  this  by  cove- 
nant with  him,  and  to  continue  faithful  in  that  covt- 
nant. 

Thefc  v/ere  the  terms  on  which  they  might  have  en- 
joyed the  kinc^dom.  And  was  there  any  thing  unrea- 
Ibnabie  in  all  this?  Avas  it  a  hard  bargain  to  have 
heaven  upon  thefe  condition. s  ? 

When  the  poor  wretch  (hall  look  back  upon  thefe 
eafy  ^.erm-,  which  he  refufed,  and  compare  the  labour 
of  them  with  the  pains  and  lofs  which  he  there  I'ullain- 
eth,  it  cannot  be  uov^  conceived  hov/ it  will  rend  his 
very  heart  1  Ah,  thinks  he,  how  jufily  do  I  fulTer  all 
this,  v/ho  would  not  be  at  fo  fmail  pains  to  avoid  it  ; 
Where  was  my  underfhinding  when  I  neglected  thy 
gracious  offer  ;  when  I  called  the  Lord  a  hard  mailer  ; 
and  thoiight  hb  pleufant  fcrvice  to  be  a  bondage,  ani 


100 


The  S at  at  ^'^  Everlasting  Rest, 


tlie  fervice  of  the  devil  and  my  flefli  to  be  the  only 
freedom  ?  Was  I  isot  athoufajid  times  worfe  than  mad, 
•^vhen  I  cenfured  the  holy  way  of  God,  as  needlefs 
preciiencis  ?  and  cried  out  cu  it,  as  an  intolerable 
burden  ?  When  I  thought  the  laws  of  Chrift  too  ftricl ; 
and  all  too  much,  that  I  did  for  the  life  to  come  ?  O, 
•what  had  all  the  trouble  of  duty  been,  in  comparifon 
of  the  trouble  I  now  fuftain  ?  Or  all  the  fufFerings  for 
Chrift  and  well-doing,  in  compaiifon  of  theie-  fufft-r- 
ings  that  I  mu0  undergo  for  ever  ?  What  if  I  had  fpent 
my  days  in  the  rtriacftlite  ?  What  if  I  had  lived  fVill 
upon  my  knees?  What  if  1  had  lofl  my  credit  with 
men  ?  and  been  hated  of  all  men  for  the  fake  of  Chrift  ? 
and  borne  the  reproach  of  the  foolllh  ?  What  if  I  had 
been  imprii^oncd,  or  banidicd,  or  put  to  death  ?  O, 
■what  had  all  this  been  to  the  miferies  that  I  now  fuffer  ! 
Would  not  the  heaven  which  I  have  loft,  have  recom- 
penfed  all  my  lofles  ?  and  Ihould  not  all  my  fufterlngs 
liave  been  there  forgotten  ?  What  if  Chrift  had  bid  me 
do  feme  great  matter  ?  as  to  live  in  continual  tears  and 
forrow,  to  fuffer  death  a  hundred  times  over  ?  (which 
yet  he  did  not)  Ihould  I  net  have  doRC  it  ?  How  much 
more,  when  he  f;iid  but  '•  believe,  and  be  favcd  ;  feck 
my  face,  and  thy  foul  fliall  live  :  love  me  above  all, 
walk  in  my  fweet  and  holy  way,  take  up  thy  crofs  and 
follow  me,  and  I  will  fave  thee  from  the  wrath  of  God, 
and  I  will  give  thee  evevlafting  life,"  O  gracious  of- 
fer !  O  eafy  terms  1  O  curfed  wretch,  that  would  not 
be  perfuadcd  to  accept  them  1 


6.  This  alfo  wiil  be  a  moft  tormenting  connuerati- 
<jn,>to  remember  what  they  fold  their  eteinal  welfare 
for.  Wh'.n  they  compare  the  value  of  the  pleafuresoi 
fin,  with  the  value  of  the  recompenfe  of  reward,  how 
v/illtht  vaft  difproportion  aftonifh  them  !  To  think  of 
a  fewpleafant  cups,  or  fweet  morfels,  a  little  eafe,  or 
lov/dv^light  to  the  flefli  ;  and  then  to  think  ofeverlaft- 
ijig  glory  1  What  a  vaft  difference  between  them  will 
then  appear  1   To  think,  this  is  all  I  had  for  my  foul. 


101 

n-.y  God,  my  hopes  of  blcffedncr^  !  It  cannot  poffibly 
be  eApieffed  how  tihefe  thoughts  will  tear  his  heart. 
Then  will  he  exclaim  ugnlnft  his  folly,  O  mif^rablc 
^vrctch  !  Did  I  ftt  my  foul  to  fale  for  fo  bafe  a  prlgc  ? 
Did  I  part  with  my  God  for  a  Utile  dirt  and  droTs  ? 
and  fell  my  Saviour,  as  Judas,  for  a  little  falver  ?  O  for 
how  fmall  a  matter  have  I  parted  with  my  h?pplnefs  1 
1  had  but  a  dream  of  delight,  for  my  hopes  of  heaven  : 
and  now  I  am  awaked,  it  is  all  vanilhed  :  where  arc 
now  my  honors  and  attendance  ?  My  morftls  are  now 
turned  to  gall,  and  my  cups  to  wormwood.  They  de- 
lighted me  no  longer  than  while  they  were  pafTing 
down  ;  and  is  tliis  all  I  have  had  for  the  incilimable 
treafure  ?  O  what  a  mad  exchange  did  I  make  1  What 
if  I  had  gained  all  the  world,  and  left  my  foul  ?  But 
alas,  how  fmall  a  part  of  the  world  was  it,  for    which 

I  gave  up  my  part  of  glory  I O  that  linners  would 

think  of  this,  when  they  are  fwimming  in  delights, 
and  Hudying  to  be  rich  and  honorable  1  When  t'.iey 
sire  defperately  venturing  upon  known  trinUgreffionj 
and  finning  againft  the  checks  of  confcience  ! 

7.  Yet  much  more  will  it  add  unto  their  torment, 
when  they  confider  that  all  this  was  their  own  doisgs, 
and  that  they  willfully  procured  their  own  deftruftion  : 
had  they  been  forced  to  fin,  it  would  much  abate  the 
rage  of  their  confciences,  or  if  they  v/ere  punifhecl 
for  another  man's  tranfgrtflions  :  or  if  any  other  had 
been  the  chief  author  of  tlieir  ruin  :  but  to  think, 
that  it  was  the  choice  of  their  own  wills,  and  that 
God  had  fct  them  in  fo  free  a  conditicn,  that  none 
in  the  world  could  have  forced  them  to  fin  apainfc 
their  wills,  this  will  be  a  griping  thought.  What, 
(thinks  this  wretched  creature)  had  I  not  enemies 
enough  in  the  world,  but  Imuft  be  an  encn.y  to  my- 
felf  ?  God  v/ould  neither  give  the  dtvil.  nor  the 
world  fo  much  power  over  me,  as  to  force  me  to 
commit  the  Icaft  tranfgreiTiori.  If  I  had  not  confeiit;ed, 
1  2 


1 02  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

their  temptations  liad  been  in  vain  ;  they  could  but  en- 
tice me,  it  was  myieli  that  yielded,  and  did  the  evil  ; 
and  I  muft  needs  lay  hands  upon  my  oj^yn  ibul,  and 
imbrue  my  hands  in  my  own  blood.  Who  Ihould  pi- 
ty me,  who  pitied  not  niyielf,  and  who  brought  all 
this  upon  mine  own  head  ?  Never  did  God  do  me 
any  ^ood,  or  offer  me  any  for  the  welfare  of  my  foul, 
but  I  reiifled  him:  he  hath  heaped  mercy  upon  me, 
and  renewed  one  deliverance  after  another,  to  entice 
my  heart  to  him,  and  yet  was  I  never  heartily  willing 
to  ferve  him  :  he  hath  j^'cntly  chaftifed  me,  ar.d  made 
me  groan  under  tlie  fruit  of  difobedience^  and  yet 
though  I  promifed  largely  in  my  affticlion,  I  was  ne- 
ver unfeignedly  willing  to  obey   him. 

Thus  \\\\\  it  gnaw  the  hearts  of  thefe  wretches,  to 
remember  that  they  were  the  caufe  of  their  undoing, 
and  that  they  Avilfully  and  obftinately  perfifted  in  their 
rebellion,  and  were  mere  volunteers  in  the  fervice  of 
tiie  deVil.  They  would  venture,  they  would  go  on, 
they  would  not  hear  him  that  fpoke  againfl  it  :  God 
called  to  them  to  hear  and  ftay,  but  tliey  would  not  : 
men  called,  confcience  called,  and  faid  to  them,  (as 
Pilate's  wife)  ha\)e  notJiing  to  do  -luith  that  hateful  sin  ; 
for  I  havd  suffered  many  tilings  because  of  it  ;  but 
they  would  net  hear  ;  their  will  was  their  law,  their 
rule  J  and  their  ruin. 

8.  Lastly^  it  will  yet  make  the  wound  in  their  con- 
fciences  much  deeper,  when  the)?-  fiiall  remember, 
that  it  was  not  only  their  own  doing,  but  that  they 
were  at  fo  much  coft  and  pains  for  their  own  damna- 
tion. What  great  undertakings  did  they  engage  in 
to  effect  their  ruin,  to  refill  God,  to  conquer  the 
Spirit,  to  overcome  the  power  of  mercies,  judgments, 
and  the  word  itfelf,  to  fibnce  confcience  ?  All  this 
they  did  take  upon  thtra  and  perforin.  What  a  num- 
ber of  iins  did  they  manage  at  once  !  Wiiat  diiHcuitits  'Jk 
did  they  fet  upon  !   Even   the   conc^^uering  the  powei:      1 


The  Saints''  Ever  last  hi  q-  Rest,  105 


ftf  leafon  itfelf.  What  dangers  did  tbey  adventure 
on  !  Thouijh  they  walked  in  coniiisu'.sl  danger  (  f  the 
wratli  of  God,  r.nd  knew  he  could  lay  thcni  in  the 
dull:  in  a  moment  ;  though  they  knew  they  lived  in 
danger  of  eternal  perdition,  yet  would  they  run  upon 
all  this.  Wliat  did  they  forfake  for  the  fervicc  of 
Satan  and  tlie  pleaiures  of  fin  ?  They  forfook  their 
God,  their  confcience,  tlieir  beft  friends,  their  hopes 
of  falvation. 

Oh  the  I'.ibour  that  it  cofteth  poor  vvrctclies  to  be 
damned  !  Sobriety  they  might  liave  at  a  cheaper  rate, 
and  a  great  deal  of  health  andeafe  too  ;  and  ytt  they 
uill  rather  have  gluttony  and  drunkcnnefs,  with  po- 
verty and  Ihame  and  ficknefs,  with  the  out-cries  and 
lamentations  of  wife  and  children,  and  confcience  it- 
felf.  Contentednefs  they  might  have  with  eafe  and 
ddight  ;  yet  will  they  rather  have  covetoufnefs  and 
ambition  ;  though  it  coft  them  fludy,  and  cares,  and 
fears,  and  labour  of  body  and  mind,  and  continual 
unquietnefs  ar.d  diilradtion  of  fpirit.  Though  their 
anger  be  nothing  but  a  tormenting  themfelves,  and 
revenge  and  envy  confunie  their  fpirlts,  and  keep  them 
upon  a  continual  rack  ;  though  iincleannets  dc{l:roy 
their  bodies,  and  cftates,  and  names  ;  yet  will  they 
do  and  fuffer  all  this,  rather  than  fufter  their  fouls' 
to  be  faved. 

O  how  the  reviews  of  this  will  feed  the  flames  in 
hell  1  With  what  rage  will  thefe  damn^rd  wretchea 
curfe  themfelves,  and  fay,  was  damnation  worth  all 
this  coft  and  pains  i  Was.  it  not  enough  that  1  perilh- 
ed  through  my  negligei^ce,  and  that  1  fa^  UIH  Avhile 
Satan  pliiyed  his  game,  but  I  muft  feck  fo  di'igcrntly 
my  ovvn  perdition  ?  Might  I  not  have  been  damned 
en  tree  coft,  but  I  muft  purchaie  it  fo  dearly?  I 
thought  1  C(^uld  have  been  ra\ed  without  fo  much  iuio.; 
and  could  I  not  have  been  deihoycd  v/itlv-ut  fj  mueli 
ado  ?  How  well  is   all  my  caicj  a.id  pains,  and  vio- 


10-i  The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest, 

lence  now  rt-ciuited  ?  Mufl  I  work  out  fo  li.borioufly 
my  own  dainiiation,  wiien  God  commanded  nie  to 
work  out  my  lalvation  ?  O  It'  I  h.id  done  as  much 
for  heaven  as  I  did  for  hell,  I  had  furely  had  it.  I 
cried  out  of  the  tedious  way  of  godlinefs  ;  and  yet  I 
could  be  at  more  pains  for  Satan,  and  for  death.  If  I 
had  loved  Chrifl  as  [Irongly  as  I  did  my  plcafures,  and 
profits,  and  honors,  and  thought  on  him  as  often, 
and  fought  him  as  painfully,  O  how  happy  had  I  now 
been  !  But  juftly  do  I  fuffer  the  flames  of  hell,  who 
would  rather  buy  ther^  fo  dear,  than  have  heaven 
fvhen  it  was  nurchafed  to  my  hands. 

Thus  I  have  fhewed  you  fom.e  of  thofe  thoughts 
which  v/ill  aggravate  the  mifery  of  thefe  >vretches  for 
ever.  O  that  God  would  perfuade  thee,  who  readefl 
thefe  words,  to  take  up  thefe  tlioughts  now,  for  the 
preventing  that  inconceivable  calamity,  fo  that  thou 
wavei'l  not  take  them  up  in  hell  as  thy  own  tormentoic. 


CHAP.     III. 


Tlieij  shall  loss   all  Things   that  arc  comfortablcy 
as  XV  ell  as   Heave?i, 

HAVING  fliewcd  you  thofe  con fiderations  which 
will  then  aggravate  their  mifery,  I  am  next  to 
fliew  you  their  additional  lolTes,  which  will  aggravate 
it.  For  as  godliness  hath  the  promise  both  of  this  life^ 
and  that  which  is  to  come ;  and  as  God  hath  laid,  'That 
ifwejlrst  seek  his  kingdom  and  righteousness^  all  things 
else  shall  be  added  to  us  :  fo  alio  are  the  ungodly  threat- 
ened with  the  lofs  both  of  fpiritual  and  of  corporal 
blcffings  ;  and  becaufe  they  fought  not  firft  Chrift's 
kingdom  and  righteoufnefs,  therefore  (hall  they  lofe 
both  it,  and  that  which  they  did  feek,  and  there  Ihall 


Tilt'  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  105 

bs  taken  from  them  even  that  little  M'hich  they  have. 
'If  they  couid  but  have  kept  their  prefcnt  enjoymtnts, 
they  would  not  have  much  cared  for  the  Ids  of  hea- 
ven :  but  catching  at  the  fhado\Y  for  the  fubAance, 
they  nov/  find  Miey  have  left  both  ;  and  that  -when 
they  rejedltd  Chrift,  they  rejecled  all  thing?.  If  they 
had  loft  and  forfakcn  all  for  Chrift,  they  would  have 
found  all  again  in  him  ;  for  he  would' have  been  all 
in  all  to  tlx.  m  :  but  now  they  have  foifakeii  Cinift  for 
other  things,  they  Ihal!  lofe  Chiift,  r^nd  tliat  alic)  for 
Tb'hich  they  did  forfaki  him. 

But  I  will  particularly  open  to  you  fonie  of  their 
Qther  loifes. 

1.  They  flrdli  lofe  tiitir  prefent  conceit  of  tlicir  in- 
tereft  in  God,  and  of  his  favour  tov.ards  them,  and 
of  their  part  in  the  merits  and  fufferings  of  Chrift. 
This  falfe  belief  doth  now  fupport  their  fpirits,  and 
defend  them  from  the  terrors  that  would  elfe  feize  up-* 
on  them  :  but  what  will  eafe  their  trouble  when  this 
is  gone  ?  When  they  can  believe  no  longer,  they  will 
be  quiet  no  longer.  If  a  man  conceit  that  he  is  in. 
fafety,  his  conceit  may  make  him  cheerful  till  hi» 
mifery  comes,  and  then  both  his  conceit  and  comfort* 
vanifn. 

There  is  none  of  this  believing  in  hell  ;  nor  any  per- 
fuaGon  of  pardon  or  happinefs,  nor  any  boafting  of 
their  honefty,  nor  juftifying  themielve^.  This  was  but 
Satan's  ftratagem,  that,  being  blindfold,  they  might 
follow  him  the  more  boldly  ;  but  then  he  will  uncover 
their  eyes,   and  they  (liall  fee   where  they  are. 

2.  Another  addition  to  the  mifery  of  the  damned 
will  be  this  :  that  with  the  lofs  of  heaven,  they  fliall 
lofe  all  tlieir  hopes.  In  this  life,  though  they  were 
threatened  with  the  wrath  of  God,  yet  their  hope  of 
efcaping  it  did  bear  up    their    hearts.     We   can    now 


106  The  Saints''  Eve  rlcntiug  jRcst, 

fcarce  fpeak  with  the  vilefl  drunkard,  or  fwearer,  or 
icorner,  bnt  he  hopes  to  be  faved  for  all  this.  O  hap- 
py world!  if  falvatlon  were  as  coirnron  as  this  hope; 
even  thofe  whofe  hellifh  nature  is  written  in  the  face 
of  their  convcrfation,  whofe  toiiguts  plead  the  caufc 
of  the  devil,  and  fpeak  the  lanijuage  of  htfll  ;  yet  flrong- 
ly  hope  fur  heaven,  though  the  Cod  of  heaven  hath 
told  them  no  fuch  fliall  ever  come  there.  Nay,  fo 
ftrcng  arc  men's  hopes,  that  they  will  difputc  the  caufe 
with  Chiifl  himfclf  at  judgment,  and  plead  their  eating 
end  drinking  in  hio presence^  ihcir  preaching  in  his 
name-,  and  casting  out  dczilsy  (and  thcfe  arc  more  pro- 
bable arguments  than  our  baptifm,  and  common  pro- 
frillon,  and  name  of  chi-illians)  they  will  (HlBy  deny 
that  CYir  th'^y  veglccted Christ  in  hunger.,  nakedncssy 
jjrison,  till  Ghiilt  confute  them  with  the  fentcnce  cf 
their  condemnation.  Though  the  h.eart  of  their  hopei 
•will  be  broken  at  their  death  ;  yet,  it  feems,  they  would 
fain  plead  fcr  fixh  hope  at  the  general  judgment. 

But,  O  the  Aid  fiate  of  thefe  men,  when  they  mud 
bid  farewell  to  all  their  hopes  I  when  tlieir  hopes  fliall 
all  perifli  w-ith  tliem  !  The  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall 
fail  -i  and  iheir  hope  shall  be  as  the  giving  up  of  the 
ghost.  The  giving  up  of  the  ghoQ,  is  a  fit,  but  terrible 
rcfemblar.ee  of  a  wlckjd  man's  giving  up  his  hope;:. 

For  First,  z.s  the  foul  departeth  not  from  the  body 
without  the  greatcfi  pain,  fo  doth  tlie  hope  of  the 
wicked  depart.  O  the  pangs  that  feize  upon  the  fcul 
of  the  fi^u.er  M  death  aiul  judgment,  when  he  is 
parting  with  all  his  hopes  1 

Secondlvt  The  foul  departeth  from  the  body  fadJen- 
iy,  in  a  moment,  whlcii  l.:;th  there  delightfully  con- 
liiiued  fo  mi^ny  )euis  ;  ju!t  fo  doth  the  hop::  of  the 
wici:cJ    denart. 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  107 

Thirdlv^  The  foul  which  then  departetli,  will  never 
return  to*^live  with  the  body  in  this  world  any  more  ; 
and  the  hope  of  the  wicked,  when  it  departeth,  tak- 
eth  an  everlaftin^- farewell  ot"  his  foul.  A  miracle  of 
refnrre6lion  fliall  again  conjoin  the  foul  and  body, 
but  there  (hall  be  no  fucli  miraculous  rcfurrccllon  of 
the  damned 's  hope. 

jMethinks  it  is  the  moft  doleful  fpecflacle  that  this 
■world  affords,  to  fee  an  ungodly  perfon  dying- ;  his 
foul  and  hopes  departing  together  !  With  what  a  fad 
chang-e  he  appears  in  another  world  !  Then  if  a  man 
could  but  fpeak  with  that  hopelefs  foul,  and  aik  it, 
are  you  now  as  confident  of  falvation  as  you  were  went 
to  be  ?  Do  you  now  hope  to  be  faved  as  foon  as  the 
Riofl:  godly  ?   O  what   a  fad  anfwer  would  he  return  1 

O  that  carelefs  finncrs  would  be  awakened  to  think 
of  this  in  t^ie  !  If  thou  be  one  of  them,  who  art 
reading  thefe  lines,  I  do  here,  as  a  friend,  advlfe  thee, 
that  as  thou  wouldfl  not  have  all  thy  hopes  deceive 
thee,  when  thou  hall:  mod  need,  thou  prefently  try 
them,  whether  they  will  prove  current  at  the  touch - 
flone  of  the  fcripture  ;  and  if  thou  find  them  unfound, 
let  them  go,  whatfoever  forrow  they  coil  thee.  Reft 
not  till  thou  canft  give  a  reafon  ot  all  thy  hopes  ;  till 
thou  canft  prove,  that  they  are  the  hopes  which  grace, 
and  not  nature,  hath  wrought ;  that  they  are  ground- 
ed upon  fcripture -promifes  ;  that  they  purify  thy 
heart  ;  that  they  quicken,  and  not  cool  thy  endea- 
vours in  godlinefs  ;  that  the  more  thou  hopeft,  the  lefi 
thou  fmneft,  and  the  more  painful  thou  art  in  follow- 
ing on  the  work,  and  not  grown  more  loofe  and  care- 
lefs by  the  increafing  of  thy  hopes  ;  that  thou  art  wil- 
ling to  have  th^.m  tried,  and  fearful  of  being  deceived  ; 
that  they  ftir  up  thy  defires  of  enjoying  what  thou 
hopeft  for,  and  the  deferring  thereof  as  the  trouble  of 
tfay  heart. 


108  The  Sal  Jits'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

Tl:eie  is  a  hope  which  is  a  fingular  grace  and  duty  ; 
and  there  is  a  hope  which  is  a  notorious,  dangerous 
fin  :  fo  confcqucntly  there  is  adefpair  which  is  a  griev- 
ous lin  ;  and  there  is  a  defpair  which  is  abfolutely  ne- 
celTary  to  thy  lalvation. 

I  would  not  have  thee  defpair  of  the  fufficiency  of 
the  blood  ofChrifl  to  fave  thee,  if  thou  believe,  and 
heartily  obey  him  :  nor  of  tlie  wiilingnefs  of  God  to 
pardon  and  favc  thee,  if  thou  be  fuch  an  one  :  nor  yet 
abfolutely  of  thy  own  falvation,  becaufe  while  there  is 
life  and  time,  there  is  hope  of  tliy  coriverfion,  and  fo 
of  thy  falvaticn;  nor  would  I  draw  thee  to  defpair  of 
finding  Chrifl,  if  thou  do  but  heartily  feek  him  :  but 
this  is  the  defpair  that  I  would  periuade  thee  to,  as 
thuu  loveft  thy  foul  :  that  thou  defpair  of  ever  being 
faved,  except  thou  be  born  again  ;  or  of  feeing  God, 
without  holinefs  ;  or  efcaping  pcrilhing,  except  thou 
fuddenly  repent  ;  or  of  ever  having  part  in  Chrift,  ex- 
cept thou  love  him  above  father,  mother,  or  thy  ovrii 
life  ;  or  of  crer  truly  loving  God,  or  being  his  fer- 
vant,  while  thou  lovcft  the  world,  and  ferveft  it. 

Thefe  things  I  would  have  thee  defpair  of,  and 
whatever  clfe  God  hath  told  thee  Ihall  never  come  to 
pafs.  And  when  thou  hafl:  ladly  fearched  into  thy  own 
heart,  and  fiudefl:  thyfelf  in  any  of  thefe  cafes,  I  would 
have  thee  defpair  of  ever  being  faved  in  that  (late  thou 
art  in.  This  kind  of  defpair  is  one  of  the  firft  fteps 
to  heaven. 

ConGder,  if  a  man  be  quite  out  of  his  way,  what 
mufl  be  the  firfl:  means  to  bring  him  in  again  ?  Why, 
a  defpair  of  ever  coming  to  his  journey's  end  in  the 
way  that  he  is  in.  If  his  home  be  ealhvard,  and  he 
be  going  wcflward,  as  long  as  he  hopes  he  is  in  the 
right,  lie  will  go  on  :  and  as  long  as  he  goes  en  hoping, 
he  goles  fhrther  amifs.  Therefore  when  he  meets  with 
fomebc^^Ajtjiat  alTures  him  that  he  is  clean  out  of  his 


The  Sahtta^  Eveihsting  Rest.  1  Ot 

way,  and  brings  him  to  dcfpalr  of  coming  liomc  ex- 
cept he  turn  back  iigain  ;  then  he  will  return,  and 
then  be  may  hope. 

Why  finner,  juft  fo  it  1:;  with  thy  foul  ;  then  art 
out  of  the  way  to  heaven,  and  in  that  way  thou  haft 
proceeded  many  a  year  ;  yet  thou  goeft  on  quietly, 
and  hopeft  to  be  faved,  becaufethou  art  not  fo  bad  a« 
many  others.  Why,  I  tell  thee,  except  thou  thro^▼■ 
away  thcfe  hopes,  and  fee  that  thou  hal\  all  this  while 
been  quite  out  of  the  way  to  heaven  :  I  fay,  till  thou 
be  brought  to  this,  thou  wilt  never  return  and  be  far- 
ed. Who  will  turn  out  of  his  way  while  he  hopes 
he  is  right?  Remember  what  I  fay  ;  till  thou  feel 
God  convincing  thee,  that  the  way  which  thou  baft 
lived  in,  will  not  ferve  thy  turn,  aiid  fo  break  down 
thy  former  hopes,  there  is  yet  no  faving  work 
wrought  upon  thee,  how  well  foever  thou  maycft  hope 
of  thyfelf.  Yea,  thus  much  more,  if  any  thing  keep 
thy  foul  out  of  heaven,  there  is  nothing  in  the  world 
likelier  to  do  it,  than  thy  falfe  hopes  of  being  faved, 
while  thou  art  out  of  the  way  to  falvation. 

3.  Another  additional  lofs,  aggravating  their  lofs 
of  heaven,  is  this,  they  Ihall  lofe  all  their  carnal  mirth  J 
Ihcy  will  fay  to  themlelves  (as  Solomon  doth)  of  their 
laughter^  thou  art  mad  ;  and  of  their  mirth^  rohat  didst 
thou  ?  Ecclef.  ii.  2.  Their  pleafant  conceits  are  then 
ended,  and  their  merry  tales  are  all  told,  their  mirth 
ivas  but  as  the  crackling  of  thorns  under  a pot^  Ecclef. 
vii.  6.  It  made  a  blaze  for  awhile,  but  it  was  pre- 
fently  gone,  and  will  return  no  more.  They  fcorn- 
ed  to  entertain  any  faddenlng  thoughts  :  the  talk  of 
death  and  judgment  was  irkiome  to  them,  becaufe  it 
damped  their  mirth  :  they  could  not  endure  to  think 
of  their  fm  or  danger,  becaufe  t.heie  thoughts  did  fad 
their  fpirlt  :  they  knew  not  what  it  was  to  weep  for 
fin,  or  to  hujvble  thcmfclves  under  the  aiighty  hand 
K 


110  The  Saints'*  Everlaat'ing  Rest, 

of  God  :  thev  could  Iraigh  away  forrow,  and  fing 
away  cares,  and  drive  away  tlicfe  intlancholy  thouglits  : 
they  lhru£ht  if  ih^y  Hiould  meditate,  and  jnay,  ar.d 
mourn  as  tlie  gcdly  do,  their  lives  v.ciild  be  a  con- 
tinual mifery. 


Alas,    poor  fouls  1    What  a  mifciy  then   will    that 
life  be,   where  you    fiiall  have    nothing    but  forrow  ; 


interfe,    hcart-p: 


nnilliplicd    forrow  ?    When 


you  fiiall  have  Ticither  the  joys  of  the  faints,  nor  your 
ow  n  former  joys  ?  Do  you  think  there  is  one  merry 
heart  in  hell  ?  Or  one  joyful  countenance,  or  jtfling 
tongue  ?  You  cry  now,  A  little  mirth  is  ivorth  a  great 
cIcjI  of  sorrow  :  but  fuiely  a  little  godly  forrow,  which 
would  have  ended  in  eternal  joy,  had  been  more 
worth  thnn  a  great  deal  of   your  fcolifli  mirth  which 


111  end 


in  iorrow. 


4.   Another  additional  lofs  will  be  this:   they  fliall 
lofe  all  their  fenfual  delights  ;  that  which  they  elleem- 
ed  their  chief  good,  tl.tir  heaven,  there  falfe  ^od  muft 
they  lofe,  as  well  as  God  himfelf. 


O  whut  a  fall  will  the  proud  ambitious  3>:an  have 
from  the  top  of  his  honors  !  As  his  duft  and  bones 
Aviil  not  be  known  fiom  the  duft  and  bones  of  the 
poorcft  beggars  :  fo  neither  will  his  foul  be  honored 
or  favour^^d  any  more  tlian  theirs.  What  a  number 
of  the  great,  noble,  ar.d  learned,  are  novr  fluit  out 
of  the  prcf'-nce  of  Chrift  1  They  are  fliut  out  of  their 
v.tll  contrived  houfts.  arid  fun. pLuous  buildings  ;  tlieir 
ccmely  chambers,  with  ccflly  hangings  ;  their  foft 
bed.,  aud  eafy  couches  They  flii.ll  not  find  their 
gcillant  walks,  their  curious  gardens,  with  variety  of 
beauteous  fruits  and  flowers  ;  their  rich  paflures,  and 
plcafant  meadows,  and  plenteous  harveft,  and  fiocks 
and  herds.  Their  tables  will  not  be  fo  fpread  and 
i'jrniflied,  nor  they  fo  pundually  attended  and  ob- 
icived.     They  have  not  their  variety  of  dainty  fare, 


The  Saints^  Everlasting   Rest,  111 


o 


•r  Cevei-Hl  couiTis,  to  pleafe  their  appetites  ta  tliC 
full.  The  rich  m^w  thjre  f.ireth  not  dtlicloufly  eveiy 
day,  nclihrr  fli.dl  he  wear  thv^re  his  puvplvr  aiii  fif'c 
linen. 

O  that  finncrs  wor.l.l  rcmer.iber  tliis  In  the  m'ulft 
of  their  jollity,  and  i'ciy  to  one  another,  we  muH: 
fliortly  reckon  for  thi3.  V/IU  th?  reir.embrancL' of  It 
then  be  comfortable  or  terrible  ?  will  thr.fe  deligh.'^s 
accompawy  us  to  anoi:h:.'r  worll  ?  How  H];!!!  we  look 
cjich  other  in  the  fuce,  if  v/2  meet  in  hell  ?  Vs^iil  not 
the  memorial  oF  them  be  then  our  t,>rm'.nt  ?  Co;ij-^, 
as  we  have  finned  together,  L-t  iis  pniy  together  be- 
fore we  nir,  that  God  would  p;irdon  us,  and  ht  u» 
enter  into  apromife  with  one  a;;Other  that  Ave  will  do 
thus  no  more,  but  will  meet  to^^ether  in  thj  worlliip 
cf  God,  and  hcdp  one  another  towards  heaven,  as 
oft    as  we  have    met   for    cur   finful    merrirncnt?,    in 

helping  to  deceive  and   defiroy   each   other. This 

would  be  the  way  topreven:  this  forrow,  and  a  ccuiftf 
that  Nvouid  cciuiort  ycu,  when  ycu  lock  back  vljqu  it 
hereafter. 


CHAP.     IV. 

The  Crsatiisss   cf  the   Torments  of  the  D:imncd 
dicccvtred, 

HAVING  thus  fiiev/ed  you  how  great  their  lofs 
is,  who  are  (hut  out  vX  rell,  aad  how  it  v.ill  be 
aggravated  by  thofe  additional  Icdrc-s  which  will  ac- 
company it.  I  fliould  next  here  liu^vv  y^>u  the  great- 
nefs  of  thofe  pofitive  uiderln^;S,  which  v.ill  accon,p'ai\y 
this  lofs.  But  I  will  not  meddle  with  the  qiiiiUty  of 
thofe  fufterings,  bat  only  fhew  tleir  greatnefs  in  feme 
few  difcovericsj  left  the  carelefs  Unner,  whih  iij  hears 


112  Th0  Saints^  Ever  fen  fin^  Resi^ 


o 

of  no  other  punilTiment  but  that  of  lofs,  flionld  think 
he  can  bear  that  well  enough.  That  there  are,  Wefides 
the  lofs  of  happhiffs,  ad\iial  fcnnijle  tormciits  for  the 
damned,  is  a  matter  beyond  all  doubt,  and  that  they 
will  be  excpedifi^ly  great,  may  appear  by  thcfe  argu- 
Hicnts  following, 

1.  From  the  principal  author  of  them,  which  Is 
God  himftlf :  as  it  was  no  lefs  than  God  whom  the 
Cnners  had  ofTendfd,  fo  it  is  no  lefbthan  God  that  will 
]»uni(h  them  for  their  oflencs.  He  hath  prepared 
thole  torments  for  his  enemies.  His  continued  anger 
will  ftill  be  devouring  them.  His  breath  of  indigna- 
tion will  kindle  the  flames.  His  wrath  will  be  an 
intolerable  burden  to  their  fouls.  If  it  were  but  a 
creature  that  they  had  to  do  with,  they  might  better 
bear  it.  But  wo  to  him  that  falls  under  the  ftrolces 
of  the  Almighty  !  They  fliall  feel  to  their  forrow, 
That  it  is  a  fearful  thin^  to  fall  into  the  hands  oftht 
living  God,  It  were  nvthinr>;  in  ccmparifon  to  this, 
if  all  the  world  wer«  againlt  th^*ni,  if  the  ftrength 
of  all  the  creatures  were  united  in  one  to  intli£l  their 
penalty.  What  a  confuming  fire  is  his  w^ath  1  If  it 
'be  kindled  here*  and  that  Out  a  little,  how  do  we  wither 
before  it,  as  the  grass  that  is  cut  donon  before  the  su?i  ! 
How  foon  doth  our*!lrengtb  decay,  and  turn  to  weak- 
nefs,  and  onr  beauty  to  deformity  1  The  flamei  do 
tiOt  fo  cafily  run  through  the  dry  flubble,  as  the  wrath 
cf  God  will  feed  upon  ihtfe  wretches.  Oh,  they 
that  Conld  not  bear  a  prlfon,  era  gibbet,  for  Chrift, 
fcarce  a  few  fcorns,  how  will  they  now  bear  the  de- 
vouring fire  ! 

2.  The  place  or  Rate  of  torment  is  purpofely  or- 
dained for  th?  glorifying  God's  juflicc.  As  all  the 
works  of  God  are  great  and  wonderful,  fo  thofe  above 
all,  which  are  fpecially  intended  for  the  eminent  ad- 
vancing of  fome  of  his  attributes.  When  he  will  glo- 
jify  his  power,  he  makes    the  woilds.     The   comely 


The  Saints'  E-^crla^finz  I'e<J,  113 


order  of   nil,  and  fingul'ir   creatures,  declare  Ms  wil- 
dom.      His    providence    is    Hiewn,    in    ful\?/niln:j;    all 
things  and    maintuinin;^  ord.-r,  and  attending  his  e:;- 
cellsnt  encis,  aniongfl  the  confultd,  pervc  rle,  tunuiltu- 
ous  agitations  of  a  wcrld  of  wicked,  foollfli,  fclf-dc- 
firoving  inifcreants.     When  a  fpark  of  his  wraih  dctU 
kindle   tspon  the    eirth,  the    Avhole    world,  fave    only 
eight  periGns,are  drowned,  Sv)dcm,  Gomorrah,  Admah. 
and  Ztboim,  are  burnt  with  fire  from  heaven  to  aOie:~>. 
'I'he  fea  (huts  her  mouth  upon  fome.      The  earth  doth 
open  and  fwallow   others.     'J'he  pcftllence    dcf\royttli 
thtm  by  thoufrinds.     'i'he    prefent  deplorable  flate  of 
tl;e  Jews  itiay  fully  teftify   this    to  tlie  world.     Ard 
yet  the  glorifying  of  the  two  great  attributes,  cfn^.er- 
cy  and  juftice,  u  intended  moTl  eminently  for  the  life 
to  come.      As  thercft-re  when  God  will  pui-jioftly  glo- 
rify his  mercy,  he  will  do  it  in  a  way  that  is  now  be- 
yor.d  the  comprehenfiou  of  the  faints^  that  mufl  enjoy 
it  ;   fo  that  the  blood  of  his  Son,  and  the  enjoyment 
of  himfelf  immediately  in  glory,   ftiall  not  be  thought 
too  high  an  honor   for  them  :   fo  alio,  when  the  time 
comes  that   he  will  purpofcly  manifcft  his  juftlce,  it 
fliall  appear   to    be    indeed   the   juHice  of  God.      Tlr 
cveilaflin^v;  flames  of  hell  will  not  be  thought  too  hot 
for  the  rebellious  ;    and  when  tl:ey  have  there  burned 
through   millions  of   ages,   he  will  not   repent   him  rf 
the  evil  which  is  befallen  them.     Oh,   wo  to  the  fou 
that  is  thus  fel  up  for  a  butt,  for  t-ie  wrath  of  the  Al- 
mighty to  flioct   at  1   ar.d  for  a  bulb  that  muilburn  in 
the  flames  ofliis  j^aloufy,   and  never  be  ccnfumtd  1 

3.  GonGder  who  fliall  be  God's  executioner;  €t 
their  torment  ;  and  that  is,  firlt,  Satan.  Sec  r:dly, 
themfelves.  Firll,  h::  tliat  was  here  lb  fucctibful  in 
drawing  them  from  Chrifl,  will  tluMi  be  tliC  inftrument 
of  their  punidiment,  for  yielding  to  his  temptutionb. 
It  was  a  pitiful  light  to  fee  the  man  poiTefred,  that  was 
bound  with  chains,  and  lived  aniong  tombs  :  and  tlir.t 
K  2 


114-  The  Saintfi^  Everlasting  Rest. 

other  that  would  be  caft  into  the  fire  and  into  the  wa- 
ter ;  but  alas  !  that  was  nothing  to  the  torment  that 
Satan  puts  them  to  in  hell  :  that  is  the  reward  he  will 
give  them  for  all  their  fervicc  :  for  thvir  rt-jedlnij  the 
commands  of  God,  and  forlaklng  (thrill,  and  negleft- 
ing  their  fnils  at  his  perfuafion.  Ah,  If  they  had 
ferved  Ghrift  as  faithfully  as  they  did  Satan,  hj  would 
have  given  them  a  better  rfward.  2.  And  it  is  mod 
juft  alfo,  that  chey  Ihould  there  be  tlieir  own  torment- 
crs,  that  they  may  fee  that  their  whole  deftruclion  is 
of  themfelves  ;  and  they  who  were  wilfully  the  meri- 
torious cauie,  (liould  alio  be  the  efficient  in  their  own 
fuffcrings  ;  and  then  who  can  they  complain  of  but 
themfelves  ? 

4.  Confider  alfo  that  their  torment  will  be  univer- 
fal,  not  upon  one  part  alone,  while  the  lell  are  free  ; 
but  as  all  have  joined  in  the  fin,  fo  muft  all  partake  of 
the  torment.  The  foul,  as  it  was  the  chief  in  finning, 
iliall  be  t]ie  chief  in  fuifering  :  aud  as  it  is  of  a  more 
fpiritual  and  excellent  nature  th.an  bodies  are,  fo  will 
iti  torments  far  exceed  bodily  fufferings.  And  as  the 
*|oys  of  the  foul  far  uirpafs  nil  fenfual  pkafures,  fo  tlvj 
pains  of  tiie  loul   iiirpafo  '.ill  corporal  pains. 

And  it  is  not  only  a  foul,  but  a  finful  foul  that  muft 
fufFer  :  the  guilt  which  Rill  remains  upon  it,  will  make 
it  fit  for  the  wrath  of  G(  d  to  work  u])on  ;  ns  fire  will 
not  burn,  except  the  fuel  be  combuitible  ;  but  if  the 
wood  be  dry,  hew  fi.^X'dy  will  it  burn  then  !  1  he  guilt 
of  their  (ins  will  be  ai  under  ta  gunpowder  to  the  dam- 
ned foul,  to  make  tht  flames  of  hell  take  hold  upoa 
them  witli  fury. 

And  as  the  fouK  fo  alio  the  body  muH:  bear  its  part. 
That  body  that  muft  needs  be  jjleafed,  wliatfcever  be- 
came of  its  eternrd  fafety,  {\\<u\  now  be  paid  for  its 
wnlav/ful  pler.Iurcs.  Th;;t  body  which  v/as  fo  care- 
ikilly  looked   to,  fo   tCi^derly-  chnidied — That  *-bcdy 


The  Saint'i''  Everlasting  Rest,  115 

^blch  could  not  endure  htat  or  told,  or  an  ill  I.riC-li, 
or  a  loathlome  fig-ht  ;  O  what  iiiull  it  no.v  er.diire  ! 
how  are  its  haur^hty  looks  now  taken  down  I  how  lit- 
tle will  tkoll'  dames  reg-ard  its  comelineis  ?nd  beauty  I 
btit  as  death  did  not  regard  it,  nor  the  woriiis  regard 
it,  but  as  free!/  fid  upon  the  face  of  the  proud  and 
luflful  dames,  and  the  heart  of  the  moft  ambitious 
lords  and  princes,  as  if  they  had  been  but  b.\Q,-?rars  ;  Co 
will  their  tormentors  then  as  little  pity  their  tendcr- 
nefs,  orreverciH.e  their  lordlinels.  Tiiofc  eyes  which 
were  v.'ont  to  be  dclii^hted  with  curious  fights  mufl 
then  fee  nothing, but  vvlKii  Ihall  amaze  and  terrify  them  ; 
an  angry  God  above  them,  and  thofc  faints  whoni 
they  fcornc'd,  enjoying  the  gh)iy  which  they  have 
loll  ;  and  about  tliem  will  be  only  devils  and  damned 
fouls  :  ah  !  then  how  fadly  will  they  look  back  and 
fay,  are  all  our  fcafts,  our  games  and  revels  come  to 
this  1  Then  thofe  ears  which  were  wont  to  be  delight- 
ed with  mufiC,  (hall  hear  the  fhrieks  and  cries  of  the'vr 
damned  companions  ;  children  cryinp;  out  againft  their 
parenti,  that  gave  them  encouragement  and  example 
in  evil  ;  hufbands  crying  out  upon  their  wlveS;  and 
wives  upon  their  hufbands  ;  mafters  anil  fervants  Cur- 
fing  each  other  ;  miniders  and  people  ;  magillrates  and 
fubjects,  charging  their  mifery  upon  one  another, 
for  difcouraging  in  duty,  conniving  at  fin,  and  being 
filent  or  formal  when  they  fliould  have  plainly  told 
one  another  of  their  mifery,  and  fore-warned  them  of 
their  danger.  Thus  v/ill  foul  and  body  be  compani- 
om  in  calamity. 

5.  And  the  greater  by  far  will  tlieir  torments  be, 
becaufe  they  fliall  have  no  comfort  left  to  mitigate 
thtmi.  In  this  life  wtien  a  miniftcr  told  them  of  hell, 
or  eonfclence  began  to  trouble  their  peace,  they  had 
comforts  enougli  at  hand  to  relieve  them  :  their  carnal 
friends  were  ail  ready  to  comfort  them,  bat  now  they 
have  not  a  word  of  comfort  either  for  him  or  them 
fclves.     Formerly  they  had  their  bufinefs,  their  com- 


113  Tlic  Sui/iis'^  Evtrhtsiln::  Rc&t 


pany^  tlielr  rr.irth,  to  drive  a\v:iy  tlieir  fears  \  tiev 
coiild  drink  av.i^y  their  iorrows,  cr  play  tli^ni  away, 
or  (leep  them  a\v:^y,  or  at  !e:.(l,  time  did  vvear  them 
av/ay  ;  hut  now  AX  thcTe  remedies  arc  vanifhed.  They 
kiid  a  hard,  a  prciumptuous  iinbeiieving  heart,  which 
Avas  a  wall  to  defend  them  againfl:  troubles  cf  mind  ; 
but  now  their  e>;peritnce  hnth  baniOied  thcle,  and  left 
them  naked  to  the  fuiy  cf  thofe  fiamef.  Yea,  for- 
merly Satiin  hirardf  was  their  ccniforler,  and  would 
iinfay  all  that  the  minifler  faid  againft  tiiem,  as  he  did 
to  our  nrft  mother.  HaiJi  God  said^  Te  shall  net  eat? 
Te  shall  not  surely  die.  So  doth  h<f  noAV  :  doth  God 
t'.ll  you  that  you  Smll  lie  in  hell  ?  it  is  no  fuch  mat- 
ter ;  God  is  n.oie  merciful  :  he  doth  but  tell  you  fo 
to  fright  you  frcni  finning* :  or  if  there  be  a  hell,  what 
need  you  tear  it  ?  are  not  you  chrifiians  ?  and  (liall  you 
not  be  faved  by  Ch.rill  ?  was  not  bis  blood  fiied  for 
you  ?  Miniilers  may  tcil  you  wiiat  they  pleafe,  they 
^vould  m::ke  men  believe  that  they  fhall  all  be  damned 
except  thty  w-ill  fit  themfelves  to  their  humour. — Thus 
as  the  Spirit  cf  Chrifr  is  the  comforter  of  the  faints, 
fo  Satan  is  the  con;fovter  cf  the  wicked  ;  for  he  knows 
if  he  niould  now  dilquiet  them,  they  would  no  lon- 
ger ferve  him  ;  or  if  fears  or  doubts  fnouid  trouble 
them.,  they  would  bethink  themftlves  of  their  danger. 
Never  was  a  thief  more  careful  lell  he  ftiould  awake 
the  people,  when  he  is  robbing  the  boufe,  than  Satan 
is,  not  to  awaken  a  f.nner.  But  w  k«n  the  fmner  is 
dead,  anc^iie  hath  his  prey,  then  he  hath  done  flatter- 
ing and  ccmroriing  them..  While  the  fight  of  lin  and 
niifery  might  have  helped  to  fave  themi,  he  took  all 
the  pains  he  cculd  to  hide  it  from  their  eyes  ;  but  wlien 
it  is  too  late,  and  there  is  no  hcj>e  left,  lie  will  make 
them  fee  and  feel  to  the  utmofi.  Oh,  whicii  v^riy  will 
the  forlorn  fmner  then  look  for  comfort  1  They  that 
drew  him  into  the  fnare,  andpromifed  him  fafety,  now 
forf;ike  him,  and  are  forfakeu  themfelves.  His  anci- 
ent   comf-.rts  are  taken  from  iiim,  and  the  righteous 


'The  Saints^   Everlasting  Rest,  llf 

God,  whofc  fore--\varn!ng  he  make  light  of,  will  now 
make  good  his  word  againft  him  to  the  lead  tittle. 

6.  But  the  great  Aggravation  of  this  milery,  will 
be  its  eternity.  That  when  a  thoufand  millions  of 
ages  are  paft,  their  torments  are  as  frefli  to  be^in  at 
at  the  fiift  day.  If  there  were  any  hupe  of  an  end,  it 
would  eafc  tbem  to  forefce  it  ;  but  when  it  muft  be 
for  ever  fo,  that  thought  is  intolerable:  much  more 
will  tlie  mifery  itielf  be.  They  never  heartily  repent- 
ed «f  their  fin,  and  God  will  never  repent  him  of 
their  fuffering.  They  broke  the  laws  of  the  eternal 
God,  and  therefore  Ihall  fufTsr  eternal  punifliiment. 
They  knew  it  was  an  everlafting  kingdom  which  they 
rcfulcd  ;  and  therefore  %vhat  vronder  if  they  be  ever- 
laftingly  Ihut  out  of  it  ?  It  was  their  immortal  fouls 
that  were  guilty  of  the  trefpafs,  and  therefore  mufl 
immortally  fuflfer  the  pains.  What  happy  naen  would 
they  think  themfelv^es,  if  they  might  have  lain  ftill  in 
their  graves,  or  continued  dufl,  or  fuffered  no  worfc 
than  the  gnawing  of  thofe  worms  1  O  that  they  might 
but  there  lie  down  again  !  What  a  mercy  now  would 
it  be  to  die  !  And  how  will  they  call  and  cry  out  for 
it  ?  O  death  I  whither  art  thou  gone  ?  Now  come  and 
cut  ©ff  this  doleful  life.  O  that  thefe  pains  would 
break  my  heart,  and  end  my  being  !  O  that  I  might 
once  die  at  Inft  !  Q  that  I  had  never  had  a  being  1 — . 
Thefe  groans  will  the  thoughts  of  eternity  wring  from 
their  hearts.  They  were  wont  to  think  the  fermon 
long,  and  prayer  long  ;  how  long  then  will  they  think 
thefe  endlefs  torments  ?  What  difference  is  there  be- 
twixt the  length  of  tlieir  pleafures  and  of  their  pains? 
The  one  continueth  but  a  moment,  the  other  endureth 
through  all  eternity.  O  that  Tinners  would  lay  this 
thought  to  heart  I  Remember  how  time  is  almoil  gone. 
Thou  art  Handing  all  this  while  at  the  door  of  eterni- 
ty ;  and  death  is  waiting  to  open  the  dcor,  and  put 
thee  in.  Go  lleep  out  but  a  few  more  nights,  and  Itir 
up  and  down  on  earth  a  few  more  days,  and  then  thy 


118  The  Si^intiP  Everlasting  Rest. 

nights  and  days  flrdll  end  ;  thy  thoughts,  and  cares^ 
and  pleafurcs,  and  all  fludl  be  devoured  by  eternity  ; 
thou  mufl  enter  upon  the  (late  which  fliall  never  be 
changed.  As  the  joys  of  heaven  are  beyond  our  con- 
ceivin,^,  fo  alfo  arc  the  pains  of  hell.  Everhilling  tor- 
ment is  inconceivable  torment. 

But  ir.etliinks  I  perceive  the  obflinate  finner  defpc-^ 
rately  refolving,  If  I  muft  be  danintd,  there  is  no  re- 
medy ;  rather  than  I  will  live  fo  prccifcly,  I  will  put 
it  to  the  venture  ;  I  ihall  efcape  as  well  as  the  reft  of 
my  neighbours,  and  we  will  even  bear  it  as  well  as 
we  canv — Alas,  poor  creature  I  would  thou  didft  but 
knov/  what  it  is  that  thou  dofl  fo  boldly  venture  on  ; 
I  dare  fay  thou  wouldPi  fit- ep  this  night  but  very  un- 
quletly.  Wilt  thou  leave  thyfelf  no  room  for  hope  ! 
Art  thou  fuch  an  implacable  enemy  to  Ghriil  and  thy 
own  foul  :  and  dofl:  thou  think  indeed^  that  thou  canft 
bear  the  wrath  of  God,  and  go  away  fo  ealily  with 
thefe  eternal  torments  ?  Yet  let  me  beg  thi?  of  thee, 
that  before  thou  dofh  fo  flatly  refolvc,  thou  wouldft 
lend  thine  attention  to  thefe  fev/  quePcions. 

First,  Who  art  thou,  tliat  thou  niouldfr  bear  the 
wrath  of  God  ?  Art  thou  a  God  ;  cr  art  thou  a  man? 
What  is  thy  Ib-engch  to  undergo  fo  mucl\i  Is  it  not 
jis  the  {Irtngth  of  wax  or  Aubble  to  refift  the  fire  ?  or 
23  chaff  to  the  wind  ;  or  as  duft  before  the  whirlwind? 
Was  he  not  as  (lout  a  man  as  thyfclf,  who  cried  ta 
God,  IVilt  iJiou  brtak  a  leaf  d'^liisn  to  and  fro  ?  And 
Kvilt  thou  pursue  the  dry  stubble  ?  If  thy  (Ircngth  wtre 
as  iron,  and  th.y  bones  as  biafs,  thou  couldH:  not  bear. 
If  thy  fcundatioii  were  as  the  earth,  and  chy  power  aS' 
the  heavens,  yet  fliouldn:  thou  perilh  at  the  breath  of 
his  indignation.  Ho,/  liiucli  more  when  thou  art  but 
a  little,  creeping,  breathing  clay,  krpt  a  few  days 
from  Prinking,  and  froni  bjing  eaten  with  worms,  by 
the  mere  fapport  and  favour  of  hi;r>  whom  thou  thcis 
fefiftcll  ? 


The  Salnta^  Everlasting  Rest,  1 1 9 

SccoiicHj^  If  ihou  befo  fir^n^-,  and  thy  heart  fo 
flonl,  why  do  thoie  imall  fufferiiigs  ib  dirinay  thee? 
If  thou  have  but  a  fit  of  the  gout  or  ftone,  what 
groar.s  doft  thou  utt^r  ?  The  houfe  is  filled  ^vith  thy 
complaints.  If  thou  (licv.ldfl  but  Icfe  a  leg  or  an  arm, 
thou  wouldft  make  a  great  matter  of  it.  If  thou  lofe 
thine  eftate,  and  fall  into  poverty  and  difgrace  ;  how 
heavily  would ^  thou  bear  any  one  of  thefe  ?  And  yet 
all  thefe  la'd  together,  wiU  be  one  day  accounted  a 
happy  ftate,  in  comparifon  of  that  which  is  fuffered 
in  hell.  Let  me  fee  thee  make  as  light  of  convuKive, 
gouty,  rheumatic  pains,  when  they  feize  upon  thee, 
and  then  Uie  ftrength  of  thy  fpirit  ^vill  appear.  Alas, 
how  many  fuch  boafters  as  thyfclf  have  I  feen  made 
to  floop  and  eat  their  words  1  And  when  God  hath  but 
let  out  a  little  of  his  wrath,  that  Pharaoh,  who  before 
afkcd;    Who  is  the  Lord?  hath  cried,  /  have  sinned. 

Thirdly,  If  alltliis  be  nothing,  go  try  thy  flrcngth 
by  fome  corporal  torment  ;  as  Bilney  before  he  went 
to  the  ftake,  would  firft  try  his  finger  in  the  candle  : 
fo  do  thou  :  hold  thy  finger  awhile  in  the  fire,  and 
feel  there  whether  thou  canft  endure  the  fire  of  hell. 
Auflin  mentioned  a  chafle  chrifiian  woman,  who  be- 
ing tempted  to  uncleannefs  by  a  lewd  ruffian,  fae  de« 
hred  him  for  her  fake  to  hold  his  finger  one  hour  in 
the  fire  ;  he  anfwered,  it  is  an  unreafonable  requelt : 
how  much  more  unreafonable  is  it  (faid  Ihe)  that  I 
iliould  burn  in  hell  for  the  fatisfying  your  lull;  ?  So 
lay  I  to  thee  ;  if  it  be  an  intolerable  thing  to  fuiTer 
th.e  heat  of  the  fire  for  a  year,  or  a  day,  or  an  hour, 
what  will  it  be  to  fuffer  ten  thoufand  times  more  for 
ever?  What  if  thou  v/ere  to  fufTer  Lawrence's  death, 
to  be  roalled  upon  a  grid-iron  ;  or  to  be  fcr<:ped  or 
pricked  to  death,  as  other  martyrs  were  ?  If  thou 
couldft  not  endure  fuch  things  as  thefe,  how  wilt  thou 
endure  the  eternal  flaiTies  ? 


120  The  Sa'pits^  Ever  lasting  Rest. 

Fourthly^  If  thou  be  fo  fearlefs  of  that  eternal  mi  • 
feiy,  why  is  the  lead  foretafte  of  it  fo  terrible  ?  Did  ft 
thou  never  feel  fuch  a  thing  as  a  tormenting-  confci- 
ence  ?  if  thou  haft  not,  thou  fhalt  do.  Didft  thou 
never  fee  and  fpeak  with  a  man  that  lived  in  defpara- 
tion,  or  in  fome  degree  of  thefe  wounds  af  fpirit  that 
was  near  defpair  ?  How  uncomfortable  was  their  con- 
ference ?  How  burdenfome  their  lives  !  Nothing  doth 
them  good  which  they  pofTefs  ;  the  fight  of  friends, 
or  houfe,  or  goods,  which  refreftieth  others,  is  a  trou- 
ble to  them  :  they  feel  no  fwectnefs  in  meat  or  drink  ; 
they  are  weary  of  life,  and  fearful  of  death.  What  is 
the  matter  with  thefe  men  ?  If  the  mifery  of  the  damn- 
ed itfelf  can  be  endured,  why  cannot  they  more  eafily 
endure  thefe  little  fparks  ? 

Fifthly  J  Tell  me  faithfully,  what  if  thou  ftiouldft 
but  fee  the  devil  appear  to  thee  in  fome  terrible  fiiape, 
would  it  not  daunt  thee  ?  What  if  thou  (liouldft  meet 
him  in  thy  way  home,  or  he  fijould  fhew  himfclf  to 
thee  at  night  in  thy  bedchamber,  would  not  thy  heart 
fail  thee,  and  thy  hair  ftand  on  end  ?  I  could  name  thee 
thofe  that  have  been  as  confident  as  thyfelf,  who,  hj 
fuch  a  fight,  have  been  fo  appalled,  that  they  were  in 
danger  of  being  driven  out  of  their  wits.  Or  what  if 
fome  damned  foul,  of  thy  former  acquaintance,  ftioukl 
appear  to  thee,  would  not  this  amaze  thee  ?  Alas  I 
what  is  this  to  the  torments  of  hell  ?  Canft  thou  not 
endure  a  ft^iadow  to  appear  before  thee  ?  O  how  wilt 
thou  endure  to  live  with  them  for  ever,  where  thou 
fhalt  have  no  other  company  but  devils  and  the  damn- 
ed :  and  flialt  not  only  fee  them,  but  be  tormented 
with  them,  and  by  them  I 

Lastly,  Let  me  alk  thee,  if  the  wrath  of  God  be 
to  be  made  fo  light  of,  why  did  the  Son  of  God 
himfelf  make  fo  great  a  matter  of  it  ?  When  he  had 
taken  upon  him  the  payment  of  our  debt,  and  bore 
that  punift)me«t  wt  had  deferv«d,  it  makes  him  fweat- 


Tke  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest*  121 

i\'ater  and  blood  ;  It  makes  the  Lord  of  life  to  cry, 
^^  S9\(t  />  heavy^  even  to  the  death.  It  makes  him  cry- 
out  upon  the  crols,  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me  ?  Surely  if  any  one  could  have  borne 
thcfe  fufterings,  it  would  liave  been  Jefiis  Chrift. 
He  had  another  mtafure  of  ftrength  to  bear  it  thaa 
thou  haft. 

Wo  to  poor  Gnnersfor  their  mad  fccnrity  !  Do  they 
lliink  to  find  that  tolerable  to  them  which  ^vas  io  hea- 
vy to  Chrift  ?  Nay,  the  vSon  of  God  is  caft  into  a  bit- 
ter agony,  and  bloody  frreat,  under  the  curfe  of  the 
law  only  ;  and  yet  the  feeble,  foolifti  creature  makes 
nothing  to  bear  alio  the  curfe  of  the  gofpei  ;  the  good 
Lord  bring  thefe  nun  to  their  right  minds  by  repent- 
ance, left  they  buy  their  wit  at  too  dear  a  rate. 

And  thus  I  have  fliewn  you  fomewhat  of  their  mi- 
fery,  who  mifs  of  this  reft  prepared  for  the  faints. 
And  now,  reader,  I  demand  thy  refolutiom,  what  ufe 
thou  wilt  make  of  all  this  ?  Shall  it  all  be  loft  to  thee  ? 
Or  wilt  thou  confider  it  in  good  e2\rneft  ?  Thou  haft 
caft  by  many  a  warning  of  God,  wilt  thou  do  fo  by 
^  thic  alfo  ?  Take  heed  what  thou  doft,  and  how  thoii 
refolvcft.  God  will  not  always  ftand  warning  and 
threaten!  ng.The  hand  of  revenge  is  lifted  up  ;  the 
blow  is  coming,  and  wo  to  him  on  whom  it  lighteth, 
liittle  thinkeft  thou  how  Dear  thou  ftandeth  to  thy 
eternal  ftate,  and  how  near  the  pit  thou  art  dancing 
in  thy  jollity.  If  thy  eyes  were  but  opened,  as  they 
■will  Ue  fliortly,  thou  woruldft  lee  all  this  that  I  have 
fpoken  before  thine  eyes,  without  ftirring  from  the 
place  in  which  tiiou  ftandeft.  Doft  thou  throw  by 
the  book,  and  fay,  it  fpeaks  of  nothing  but  hell  and 
damnation  ?  Thus  thou  ufeft  alio  to  complain  of  the 
minifter  ;  but  wouldft  thou  not  have  us  tell  thee  of 
thefe  things  ?  Should  we  be  guilty  of  the  blood  of 
thy  fonl,  by  keeping  ftlent  that  which  God  hath 
charged  us  to  uiakc  known  ?  Wouldft  thou  pt^rifh  la. 
L 


122 


The  Saints'^  ^zc'rlasting  Rest, 


cafe  and  filence,  and  alfo  have  us  to  perifh  -with  thee, 
rather  than  dilpleaic  thee,  by  fpeaking  the  truth?  M 
thou  \u\t  be  guilty  cf  fuch  inhuman  cruelty,  God 
forbid  we  (hould  be  guilty  of  fuch  fottifli  folly  ! 

There  are  few  preachers  fo  fimple,  but  they  know- 
that  this  kind  of  preaching  is  the  ready  way  to  be 
hated  cf  their  hearers  :  and  the  defire  of  the  favour 
of  men  Is  fo  natural,  that  few  delight  in  fuch  a  dif- 
pleafing  way.  But  I  befeech  thee  confider,  are  thefe 
things  true,  or  are  they  not  ?  If  they  were  not  true, 
I  would  heartily  join  with  thee  againft  any  minifler 
that  (hould  offer  to  preach  them,  and  to  affright  poor 
people  when  there  is  no  caufe.  But  if  thefe  threat- 
enings  be  the  word  of  God,  what  a  wretch  art  thou 
that  wouldft  not  hear  it,  or  confider  It.  Why,  what 
is  tlie  matter  ?  If  thou  be  fure  that  thou  art  one  of 
the  people  of  God,  this  dodlrine  will  be  a  comfort 
to  thee  :  but  if  thou  be  yet  unregenerate,  methinks 
thou  (liouidft  be  as  fearful  to  hear  of  heaven  as  of 
hell,  except  the  bare  name  of  heaven  or  falvation  be 
fu&cient.  Sure  there  is  no  doftrinc  concerning  hea- 
ven in  all  the  fcrinture  that  caji  give  thee  any  com- 
fort, but  upon  the  fuppofal  of  thy  converfion  ;  what 
comfort  is  it  to  thee,  to  hear  that  there  is  a  reft  remain- 
ing to  tha  people  of  God,  except  thou  be  one  of  them  ? 
Nay,  what  more  terrible,  than  to  read  of  Chrift  and  fal- 
vation for  others,  when  thou  muft  be  ihut  out  ?  There- 
fore, except  thou  wouldft  have  a  minifter  to  preach 
a  lie,  it  is  all  one  to  thee,  for  any  comfort  thou  had 
in  it,  whether  he  pr«ach  of  heaven  or  hell  to  thee. 
ITis  preaching  heaven  and  mercy  to  thee,  can  be  no- 
thing elfe  but  to  entreat  thee  to  feek  them  ;  but  he 
can  make  thee  no  promife  of  it,  but  upon  condition 
of  thy  obeying  the  gofpcl  ;  and  his  preaching  hell,  is 
but  to  pei-fuadc  thee  to  avoid  it.  And  is  not  this 
do^rinc  fit  for  thee^  to  he^r  ?  Indeed  if  thou  w»rt 
quite  paft  hope  of  efcaping  it,  then  it  were  in  vain 
t«  tall  thee  of  hell,  but  rather  let  thee  take  a  few  nicr- 


The  Saints^  Ever  last  hify-  Re.':t,  123 

ry  hours  whilft  tliou  may[l  ;  but  fts  long  r.?.  thou  nrt 
alive,  there  is  hope  of  thy  recovery,  and  therefore 
all  means  muft  be  ufed  to  av.-ake  thee  frons  thy  le- 
thargy. 

Oh  that  fome  fon  of  thnn.ler,  who  conld  fpeak  ?.-« 
PauL  till  the  hep-rers  tremble,  '.vere  now  to  preach 
th:s  do(f^nne  to  ti.te  I  Ah.s  1  ?^  terrible  'as  yo»i  think 
I  fie^k,  yet  it  is  not  the  tnourandth  part  cf  v»hat  muft 
be  felt ;  for  v/hr.t  heart  can  now  conceive,  or  what 
tongue  exprefs  the  pains  of  tlioft  fouls  thr.t  aic  under 
the  wrath  of  God  ?  Ah,  that  ever  blind  finners  (hould 
wilfully  bring  themfclves  to  fuch  unfper.kable  niifery  ! 


niercv 


You  will  then  be  crying  to  JtTus  Chrifi,  Oh 
Oh  pity  1  Why,  I  do  now  in  the  name  cf  the  Lord 
Jefns  cry  to  thee,  Oh  have  mercy,  have  pity  upon 
thine  own  foul  1  Shall  God  pity  thee,  who  v/ilt  not 
be  entreated  to  pity  thyfelf  ?  If  thy  horfe  fee  but  a 
pit  before  him,  thou  canfl  fcarccly  force  him  in  ;  and 
v;ilt  thou  fo  obflinateiy  cafl  thyfelf  into  hell,  when 
the  danger  is  foretold  thee  I  0  whet  can  stand  before 
the  Lordy  and  ijIio  can  abide  the  fierceness  of  his  an- 
ger P  Methinks  thou  (houldftneed  no  more  words,  but 
prefently  cad  away  thy  Gns,  and  deliver  up  thyftlf  to 
Chrifl.  Rcfolv§  on  it  immediately,  and  let  it  be  done, 
that  I  may  fee  thy  face  in  reft  among  the  faints.  The 
Lord  perfuade  thy  heart  to  it  without  longer  delay  : 
but  if  thou  be  hardened  unto  death,  and  there  be  no 
remedy,  yet  do  not  fay  another  day,  but  tlr^t  thou  wad 
faithfully  warned,  and  that  thou  hadft  a  fiiend  th^at 
'ivould  fain  have  prevented  thy  damnation. 


124  The  Joints^  Everiasting  Rcvtt, 


CHAP.     V. 


The  Second  Use  fcprehendi?2g  the  gcneralNeglect 
of  this  jRest,  and  exciting  to  Diligence  in- 
seeking  it. 

I  COME  now  to  the  fecond  ufe.  If  tb.ere  be  fo  cer- 
tain and  glorious  a  refl.  why  u  there  no  more  fetk- 
ing-  after  it  ?  One  would  think  that  a  man  tiiat  did 
but  once  hear  of  fucli  unfpeakable  glory,  and  did  be- 
lieve what  he  heareth  to  be  true,  fliould  be  tniufported 
with  defire  after  it,  fhdtild  almofl  forget  to  eat  or 
drink,  and  mind  and  care  for  nothin?;  elfe,  and  fpfak 
of  and  enquire  after  nothing-,  but  how  to  get  this  trc?.- 
fure  I  And  yet  people  who  hear  it  daily,  and  profifs 
to  believe  it,  do  as  little  mind  it,  or  care,  or  labour 
for  it,  as  if  they  had  never  heard  of  any  fuch  thing, 
or  did  not  believe  one  word  that  they  hear. 

I  fliall  apply  this  rcfproaf  more  particularly  to  four 
forts  of  men  :  Firft,  tlie  v/orldly-minded,  who  is  fo 
taken  up  in  feeking-  the  things  below,  tha^  he  hath 
neither  heart  nor  time  to  feek  this  rcR. 

May  I  not  well  fay  to  thcfe  mfu,  as  Paul  to  the 
Galatians  in  another  cafe,  Foolifh  finncrs  !  \vho  hath 
hexv'tched  you?  It  is  not  for  nothing  that  divines  ufe 
to  call  the  v.'orla  a  witch  ;  for  as  In  witch-craft,  men's 
lives,  fcnfes,  goods  or  cattl?  are  dcf^ioyed  by  a  ftrange, 
fccret,  unfeeii  power  oi"  the  devil,  of  v.iv.ch  a  man  cari 
give  no  natural  reafoii  ;  fo  here,  mtn  VrlU  deRroy  their 
©wn  fouls  in  a  way  cjjlte  againfl  their  own  know- 
ledge. Would  not  a  nian  wonder,  that  h  in  bin  right 
ftnfcs,  to  fee  what  riding  and  running,  what  fcriinih- 
ling  and  catching  there  is  for  a  thing  of  no'jght,  while 
ct-i^r.iai  reu  lies  by  negleftedl  What  contriving  and  car- 
ing, wliat  fighting  and  bloodfhed,  to  get  a  ftcp  higher 


The  SaintfP  Ever  lasting  Rest,  125 

in  the  world  than  their  brethren,  while  they  ncgUa  the 
kinf^ly  dir^nity  of  the  Taints  1  What  ir.latiable  purfuit 
of  fledily  pfeafures,  whilfl  they  lock  upon  the  praifcs  of 
God,  >v]]ieh  is  the  joy  of  angels,  as?,  buidtrn  !  Wliat 
unwearied  diligence  is  there  in  vaifing  their  poP.erity, 
enlarging-  their  polTeirions,  gathering  a  little  Hlver  or 
gold  I  Yea,  perhaps  for  a  poor  living  from  hand  to 
mouth,  while  in  the  mean  time  their  judgment  is 
drawing  near  ;  and  yet  how  it  (liill  go  with  them 
then,  or  how  they  fhall  live  eternally,'  did  never  put 
them  to  one  hour's  fober  ccnfideration. 

What  rifing  np  early,  fitting  r.p  late,  labonring 
and  caiing  year  after  year,  to  maii\tain  themfelves  and 
children  in  credit  till  tliey  die  ;  but  what  fliall  follow 
after,  that  they  never  think  on  ;  and  yet  thefe  men 
cry  to  us,  may  not  a  man  be  faved  without  fo  much 
ado?  How  early  do  they  roufe  up  their  feri^ants  to 
th?ir  hbour?  [Up,  come  away  to  Avork,  we  have  this 
to  do,  and  that  to  do  ;]  but  how  reldom  do  they  call 
them  [Up,  you  have  your  foul  to  look  to,  ycu  have 
everlafling  life  to  provide  for  ;  up  to  prayer,  to  the 
reading  of  the  fcripture.] 

Whr.t  a  gadding  up  and  down  the  v/orld  is  here, 
like  a  company  of  ants  upon  a  hillo<:k,  taking  inccf- 
fant  pains  to  gather  a  treafure,  v.'hicii  death  v.ill  fpurn 
abroad;  as  if  it  were  fu-h  rai  excelknt  thing  to  die 
in  the  niidft  of  wealth  and  honors  !  Or  as  if  it  would 
be  fuch  a  comfort  to  a  man  in  another  world,  to  think 
that  he  was  a  lor^,  or  a  kiiight,  or  a  gentleman,  or  a 
rich  man  <;n  cnrth  !  What  hath  this  world  done  for 
its  lovers  and  friends,  that  it  is  io  eagerly  followed, 
anv-l  painfully  fought  after,  while  Chrifl  and  htavt-n 
fta.  d  by,  ai-.d  few  regard  them?  Or  what  will  the 
world  do  for  them  fortlie  time  to  come  ?  The  com- 
mon entrance  into  it  is  through  anguiOi  and  forrow. 
The  paiTage  through  it  is  with  cor»tinual  cart  and  la.- 
L  2 


1 25  The  Saifits^  JEverlastin^  JResi 


hour.  Tiie  pafTage  out  of  it  is  with  the  greatefl  fiaarp- 
nefs  and  fadnsfs  of  all.  What  then  doth  caufc  men  ib 
jnuch  to  follow  and  efTe^l  it  ?  O  unreafonablf  bewltcli- 
fd  men  ?  Will  mirth  aiid  pkafiire  flick  clofe  to  you  ? 
Will  gold  and  worklly  glory  prove  fad:  friends  to  you 
in  the  time  of  your  greatefl  need  ?  Will  they  liear  your 
cries  in  the  day  of  your  calamity  ?  Jf  a  man  fliould 
fay  to  you,  as  Elias  did  to  Baal's  priefls,  cry  aloud : 
Oh  riches,  or  honor,  now  help  us  :  Will  they  either 
anfwer  or  relievg  ycu  ?  Will  they  go  along  with  you 
to  another  world,  and  bribe  the  Judge,  and  bring  you 
off  clear  ;  or  purchafc  you  a  room  among  the  blefTed  ? 
Why  th^^n  did  fo  rich  a  man  want  a  drop  of  water  to 
cool  his  tongue?  Or  ars  the  fweet  morfels  of  prefent 
delight  and  honor  of  more  worth  than  eternal  rell  ? 
•and  will  they  rccompenfc  the  lofs  of  that  enduring 
treafurc  ?  Can  there  be  the  lead  hope  of  any  oftheie? 
What  then  is  the  matter  ?  Is  it  only  a  room  for  our 
-dead  brfdies  that  we  are  fo  much  beholden  to  the  world 
for  ?  Why  this  is  the  lafl  and  longefl  courtefy  that  we 
iliall  receive  from  it.  But  we  fhall  have  this  whether 
:ive  ferye  it  or  no  ;  and  even  that  homely,  dufly  dwel- 
ling it  will  not  afford  us  always  neither  :  it  (hall  pof- 
fefs  our  dufl  but  till  the  rcfurre«Slion.  How  then  doth 
the  x'.'orld  deferve  fo  well  at  nieii's  hands,  that  they 
ihould  part  with  Chrifl  and  their  falvatton  to  be  its  fol- 
lowers ?  Ah  vile  deceitful  world  I  how  oft  have  \vc 
heard  thy  faithfullefl  fervants  at  lail  coruplaining)  Oil 
the  v<orld  hath  deceived  me,  and  undone  me  1  And  yet 
jTucceediug  Cwners  will  take  no  warning. 

So  this  12  the  firHLfort  of  negltders  of  heaven  wl;ich 
Tall  under  this  reproof. 

2,  The  ficond  fort  here  to  be  reproved,  are  the 
profane,  ungodly,  prefumpt  uous  i^ultitude,  who  wiU 
not  bg  perfuaded  to  be  at  fo  much  naiiis  for  falvation, 
as  to  perform  the  conimon  outward  duties  of  religion. 
^Yea,  thoui^h  thfty  i^rt  convinced  that  thefc  dutie's  are 


The  Saints^  Evcrlaf.ting  Rest,  127 

aommancled,  yet  will  they  not  be  brought  to  the  com- 
jiion  pra6tice  of  them.  If  they  liave  the  gofpel  preach- 
ed in  the  town  where  they  dwell,  it  may  be  they  will 
give  the  hearing  to  it  one  part  of  the  day,  and  fray  at 
home  the  other  ;  or  if  the  mafter  come  to  the  congre- 
gation, yet.  part  of  his  family  miifl  ftay  at  ho-Tie.  If 
they  want  the  plain  and  powerful  preaching  of  the  gof- 
pel, how  few  are  there  in  a  whole  town  who  will  tra- 
vel a  mile  or  two  to  hear  abroad,  though  they  will  go 
many  miles  to  the  market  for  their   bodies. 

And  though  tiicy  know  the  fcripture  is  the  law  of 
God,  by  which  they  muft  be  acquitted  or  condenmcd 
in  judgment  ;  and  that  it  is  the  property  of  every 
bleffed  man  to  delight  in  this  law,  and  to  meditate  in 
it  day  and  night,  yet  will  they  not  be  at  the  pains  to 
read  a  chapter  once  a  d:iy,  nor  to  acquaint  their  fami- 
lies with  thisdoclrine  of  ialvation.  But  if  they  carry 
a  bible  to  church,  and  let  it  lie  by  tl>en3  all  the  week, 
this  is  the  men  ufe  t\\\X.  they  n::ike  of  it.  And  though 
they  are  commanded  to  pray  withov.t  ceasing ;  and  to 
praj  always  and  jwt  to  faint  ;  to  continue  in  prayer^  and 
watch  in  the  sams  ivith  thannsgivirig  ;  yet  will  they  not 
pray  conftantly  v/ith  their  families,  or  in  fecret.  You 
niay  hear  in  their  houfes  two  oaths  for  one  prayer. 
Or  if  they  do  any  thing  this  way,  it  is  ufually  bxit 
a  runnin;^  ov«r  a  few  formal  words  which  they  have 
got  on  their  tongues'  end,  as  if  they  came  on  purpofe 
to  make  a  jell  of  prayer,  ar.d  to  mock  God  and  their 
own  fouls. 

Alas  I  he  that  only  reado  in  a  bonk  that  he  is  mi- 
ferable,  and  what  his  f:)ul  (lands  in  need  of,  but  never 
felt  liimf.-ll'  miftrable,  or  felt  his  fcveral  vfants,  no 
-wonder  if  he  mull  alio  fetch  his  prayer  from  his  bock 
only,  or  at  favthelf  from  the  itrength  oHiis  rncmoiy, 
Soiunion's  requeli  to  God  was,  that  ^*  Svhatprayer  or  fup- 
piication  foever  Oioivld  bo  made  by  any  man,  oi  by  all  the 
people,  when  every  ma.i  fiiail  know  iiis  oiva  foie,  and 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

his  own  grief,  and  fliall  fprecicl  forth  liis  hands  before 
God,  that  God  would  then  h^ar  and  forgive,"  2  Chron. 
vi.  2 'J,  30.  If  thefe  men  did  thus  know  and  feel 
every  man  the  fore,  and  tl;e  grief  of  his  own  foul,  wc 
ihould  neither  need  fo  much  to  urge  them  to  prayer, 
nor  to  teach  them  how  to  perform  it.  Whereas  now 
they  invite  God  to  he  backward  in  giving,  by  their 
backwardnefs  in  aflclng  ;  and  to  be  weajy  of  relieving 
them  by  their  own  being  weary  of  begging  ;  and  to 
be  feldom  and  fhort  in  his  favours,  as  they  are  in  their 
prayers  ;  and  to  give  them  but  common  and  outward 
favours,  as  they  put  up  but  common  and  outfide  re- 
quf  ft».  Yea,  their  cold  and  hcartlefs  prayers  invite 
God  to  a  flat  denial  :  for  among  men  it  is  taken  for 
granted,  that  Jie  who  afks  but  Hightly  and  feldom, 
caves  not  much  for  what  he  afks.  Do  not  thefe  men 
ju'Jj,e  themfeives  unworthy  pf  heaven  who  think  it 
liot  v.orth  their  more  ccnOant  ?nd  earnefl:  requefls  ? 
If  it  be  not  worth  afking  for,  it  is  v;orth  nothing. 
And  yet  if  one  (Ijould  go  frcm  lioufc  to  houfe,  through 
town  and  parifli,  and  enquire  at  every  houfe  as  you 
go,  whether  they  do,  morning  and  evening,  call  tlieir 
family  together,  and  carneflly  feek  the  Lord  in  pray- 
er ;  how  few  would  you  find  that  conftantly  and  con- 
fci^ntiouily  praftHe  this  duty  ?  If  every  door  were 
mirked  wlieie  they  do  not  thus  call  upon  the  name  of 
God,  that  hi;  wrath  might  be  poured  out  upon  that 
family,  our  towns  would  be  as  places  ovei thrown  by 
the  plague,  the  people  being  de-^d  -within,  and  tlie 
mark  cf  judgment  without.  I  fear  where  one  houfe 
v/ould  efcaps,  ten  would  be  marked  out  for  death; 
then  they  might  teach  their  doors  to  prj^y,  Lord  have 
mercj  vpon  us  ;  becaufc  tiie  people  would  iiot  pray 
themfeives.  Bat  efjrccially  if  you  could  iee  what  men 
do  in  their  fecret  chambers,  how  (t\s  fiioild  you  find 
in  a  vi^hole  tov/n  that  fpend  one  quarter  (  f  rn  hour, 
morning  and  night,  in  earnefl:  fupplicntion  to  God 
£jr  their  fouls  ?  Oh  hew  little  do  thefe  men  fet;  by 
eternal  reft  ! 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  1S9 

Thus  do  thf)'  {lothfully  ncj^left  all  endeavours  for 
their  own  welfsre,  except  fome  public  duty  in  the 
congreganion,  which  cuRom  or  credit  doth  engvigc 
them  to.  Peifuade  them  to  read  good  hooks,  and  they 
■will  not  be  at  fo  much  pains.  Perluade  them  to  learn 
the  grounds  of  religion  in  fome  catechifm,  and  they 
tliink  it  toil  fome  flavery,  fit  for  fchool-boys.  Per- 
fuade  them  to  fan(^ify  the  Lord's-day,  and  to  fpcnd 
it  wholly  in  hearing  the  word,  and  repeating  it  with 
tKcii-  families,  and  prayer  and  meditation,  and  tofcr-^ 
bear  all  their  worldly  thoughts  and  fpeeehes  ;  and  vrhat 
a  tedious  life  do  tliey  take  tkis  to  be  ;  and  how  long- 
may  you  preach  to  them,  before  they  will  be  bronglk 
to  it  ?  As  if  they  thougiit  heaven  were  not  worth  aU 
this  ado. 

3.  T1)C  third  fc.rt  that  fall  under  this  reproof,  are 
thofc  felf-cozening,  formal,  lazy  profefTors  of  religi- 
on, who  will  be  brouglit  to  any  outward  duty,  but 
to  their  inward  work  they  will  never  be  perfuaded. 
They  will  preacli,  or  hear,  ox  read,  or  talk  of  heaven, 
or  pray  cuilomarily  or  conflnntly  in  their  families, 
and  take  part  with  the  perfons  and  caufes  that  are 
good  ;  and  dcfire  to  1)C  efteerned  among  the  godly, 
but  you  can  never  hiing  them  to  the  more  fpiritual 
duties  ;  as  to  be  con  Rant  and  fervent  in  fecret  prayer  ; 
to  be  confcientious  in  the  duty  of  fcli-cxamination,  to 
be  conftant  in  meditation,  to  be  heavenly-mir.ded,  to 
watch  conftantly  over  their  iieart,  and  wordsand  ways, 
to  deny  their  bodily  fenfes  and  tlieir  delights,  to  mor- 
tify the  fielh,  and  not  make  pvovifion  for  it,  to  fnlfi! 
its  lufis  ;  to  love  and  heartily  forgive  an  enemy,  ar--d 
to  prefer  their  brethren  heartily  before  tbemfelves. 
The  outfide  hyjjocrltes  will  never  be  perfuaded  to  v^ny 
of  tliefc.  Above  aU  other,  two  forts  there  arc  of  tluie 
hypocrites. 

It  The  fuperficial,  opiiiionative  hypocrite. 


ISO  Thr  Saints''  Lverla.stfng  Rest, 

2.   The  worldly  bypcc.lte. 

The  fi^vmer  entertainetli  the  dcdliine  cf  the  gofpcl 
vkh  joy  ;  but  it  is  cnly  in  the  furface  of  his  lci;l, 
he  pcvtr  ^ives  the  ft-cd  any  depth  of  earth.  He 
changeth  his  opinion,  snd  thereupon  enga,<-;etk  for 
religion,  as  the  right  way,  but  it  never  melted  and 
new-inculdcd  his  heart,  nor  fet  up  Chrifb  there  in  full 
power  and  authority:  as  his  religion  is  hut  opinion, 
fo  is  his  ftudy  and  conference,  and  chief  bunnefs  all 
about  opinion.  He  is  v'-fually  an  i^>ncrant,  proud, 
bold  enquirer  and  babbler  about  controverfies,  rather 
than  an  humble  -embracer  of  the  known  truth,  with 
love  a:vd  ful)je<^ion  :  tou  may  ccnjefture  by  his  bold 
and  forv/ard  tonr.-ue,  and  conceltednefs  in  his  own 
opinions,  and  flighting  the  judgments  and  perfons  of 
others,  and  feldoni  talking  of  the  great  things  of 
Chrin  with  fcrioufnefs  and  humility — that  his  religion 
dwellcth  in  the  brain,  and  not  in  his  heart  ;  where 
the  wind  of  temptation  alTaults  him,  he  eafily  yield- 
cth,  and  it  carrieth  him  away  as  a  feathtr,  betaufe  his 
heart  is  empty,  and  not  balai^ced  and  ellablifned  with 
Chriit  and  grace.  If  this  man's  judgment  Ic^ad  him  in 
the  ccremenicus  v%-ay,  then  dcth  he  employ  his  chief 
zeal  for  ceremonies.  If  his  judgment  be  ti  gain  ft  ce- 
remonies, then  his  ftrongeft  zeal  is  employed  in  fludy- 
ing,  talking,  difputing  againft  them,  and  cenfuring 
the  ufers  of  them.  For,  not  having  the  effentials  of 
chiiftianity,  he  hath  only  the  mint  and  cummin,  the 
fm-dller  matters  of  the  law,  to  lay  out  his  zeal  upon. 
You  fliall  never  hear  ai-y  humble  and  hearty  bewail- 
ings  of  his  foul's  imperi\;6lions,  or  any  heart-bleeding 
acknowledgments  of  his  unkindncffes  to  Chrift,  of  any 
pantings  and  longings  sfter  him,  from  this  man  ;  but 
tirjt  he  is  cf  fuch  a  judgment,  or  fuch  a  religion,  or 
fociety,  or  a  member  of  fuch  a  church  :  herein  dotb 
lie  gather  his  greateft  comforts  :  but  the  inv.ard  and 
fpiritual  labours  of  a  chriftian  he  will  not  be  broug-ht 
\o. 


The  Sain fi '  Ejcrla^tlng  Resh  131 

The  like  may  be  Tiild  of  ths  worldly  hypocrite, 
who  cboaketh  the  doctrine  of  tht  gofpel  with  the 
thorns  of  worldly  cares  and  defires.  Hio  judgment  is 
convinced  that  he  muft  be  religions,  or  he  cannot  be 
faved  ;  and  therefore  he  rends,  and  hears,  and  prays, 
and  forfiikes  his  former  company  and  conrfes  ;  but 
becaufe  his  belief  of  the  gofpeUdodlrine  is  but  waver- 
ing ai;d  (lialiow,  he  refolves  to  keep  his  hold  of  pre- 
fent  things  ;  and  yet  to  be  religious,  that  fo  he  may- 
have  heaven,  when  he  can  keep  the  world  no  longer. 
This  man's  judgment  may  fay,  God  is  the  chief  good, 
but  his  heart  afid  aiTedlions  never  faid  fo,  but  looked 
upon  God  a?  to  be  tolerated  rather  than  the  flames  of 
hell,  but  not  defired  before  the*  felicity  on  earth.  In 
a  word,  the  world  hath  more  of  his  affecftions  than 
God,  and  therefore  is  his  god.  This  he  might  calily 
know  and  feel,  if  he  would  judge  impartially,  and 
were  but  faithful  to  himfelf.  And  though  this  man 
does  not  gad  after  novelties  in  religion,  as  the  former, 
yet  will  he  let  his  Tails  to  the  wind  of  worldly  advan- 
tage. And  as  a  man  whole  fpirits  are  feized  oh  by 
fome  peflilential  malignity,  is  feeble  and  faint,  and 
heartlefs  in  all  that  he  does  ;  fo  this  man's  fpirits  be- 
ing poffelfed  by  the  plague  of  this  malignant,  world- 
ly difpolition,  how  faint  is  he  in  fecret  prayer  !  Homt 
fuperficial  in  examination  and  meditation  1  How  fee- 
ble in  heart-watchings,  and  humbling,  mortifying  en- 
deavours 1  How  nothing  at  all  in  loving  and  walking 
with  God,  rejoicing  in  him,  or  defiving  him  1  So 
that  both  thefe,  and  many  other  forts  of  lazy  hypo- 
crites there  are,  who  though  they  will  trudge  on  with 
you  in  the  eafy  outfide  of  religion,  yet  will  never  be 
at  the  pains  of  inward  and  fpiritual  duties. 

4.  And  even  good  m^n  themfclves  deferve  this  re- 
proof, for  being  too  lazy  feekers  of  everUfling  reft* 
Alas,  what  a  difproportion  is  there  betv/een  our  light 
and  our  heat  I  our  profellions  and  profecution  1  Who 
maices  that  hafte,  as  if  it  were  for  heaven  ?   Hov/  ftill 


132 


The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest, 


wc  ftand  !  How  idly  we  Avork  !  How  we  talk,  and 
jel\,  and  trifle  away  our  time  1  How  deceitfully  we 
do  the  work  of  God  !  How  we  hear,  as  if  we  heard 
not';  and  pray,  as  if  we  prayed  not;  and  confer,  and 
examine,  and  meditate,  and  reprove  fin,  as  if  we  did 
it  not  ;  and  ufe  the  ordinances,  as  if  we  uled  them 
not  ;  and  enjoy  Chrifl:,  as  if  we  enjoyed  him  not ;  as 
if  we  iiad  learned  to  ufe  the  things  of  heaven,  as  the 
apoftle  teacheth  us  to  ufe  the  world  !  Who  would  think 
that  flood  by  us,  and  heard  us  pray  in  private  or  pub- 
lic, that  we  were  praying  for  no  lefs  than  everlalting 
glory  ?  Should  heaven  be  fought  no  more  earneflly 
than  thus  ?  Methinks  we  are  none  of  us  all  in  good 
fadnefs  for  our  fouls.  V/e  do  but  dally  with  the  work 
of  God,  and  play  with  Chrift,  as  children  play  with 
their  meat  when  they  fliould  ©at  it ;  we  hang  upon  dr- 
dinances  from  day  to  day,  but  we  ftir  Hot  ourfelves  to 
feek  the  Lord. 


I  fee  a  great  many  rery  conflant  in  hearing  and 
praying,  but  they  do  not  hear  and  pray  as  if  it  were 
for  their  lives.  Oh,  what  a  frozen  (lupidity  hath  be- 
numbed us  ?  I'he  plague  of  Lot's  wife  is  upon  us,  as 
if  we  were  changed  into  lifelefs  and  immoveable  pil- 
lars :  we  are  dying,  and  we  know  it,  and  yet  we  itir 
not  ?  vre  are  at  the  door  of  eternal  happinefs  or  mi- 
fcry,  and  yet  we  perceive  it  not  :  death  knocks,  and 
we  hear  it  not  :  Chrift  calls  and  kr.ocks,  and  we  hear 
not  :  God  cries  to  us,  to-day  ifjou  will  hear  my  voice, 
harden  not  your  hearts^  Work  ivhils  it  is  yet  day^  for 
thi'  nigJit  Cometh  when  nans  can  ivork.  Now  ply  your 
bufinefs,  now  labour  for  your  lives  ;  now  lay  out  all 
your  ftrengtli.  Now  or  never  ;  and  yet  wc  ftir  no  more 
than  if  we  were  half  afleep.  What  hafte  do  death  and 
judgment  make!  How  faft:  do  they  come  on  !  They 
are  almoft.  at  us,  and  yet  what  little  hafte  make  we  1 
The  fpur  of  God  is  in  our  fide,  we  bleed,  we  groan, 
and  yet  we  do  not  mend  our  pace.  Lord,  what  a 
fenfckfoj  fottifli,  earthly,  hellifli  thing  is  a  hard  heiirt  1 


The  Saints''  JH-jfr  las  ting-  Refit,  13t 

That  we  r/ill  not  go  roundly  and  cheerfully  toward 
heaven  without  all  this  ado  ?  "No,  nor  with  it  neither? 
Where  is  the  man  that  is  Terious  in  his  chiiP/iarity  ? 
Methinks  men  every  where  make  but  a  trifle  cf  their 
eternal  flate.  They  look  after  it  but  a  litth  by  the 
by  ;  they  do  not  make  it  the  talk  and  bufinefs  of  thei'r 
lives. 

To  be  plain  with  you,  I  think  nothing  i:ndo'»s  men 
fo  much  as  complimenting  and  jelling  in  religion. 
Oh,  if  I  were  not  iick  myfelf  of  the  fame  difcafe, 
with  what  tears  would  I  mix  this  ink  ;  and  with  what 
groans  fliould  I  exprefs  thefe  fad  complaints  ;  and  with 
what  heart's  grief  Ihould  I  mourn  over  this  unirerfal 
deadnefs  I  Do  the  magiftrates  among  us  feriouily  per- 
form their  portion  of  the  work  ?  are  they  zealous  for 
God?  do  they  build  up  his  hoiife  ?  are  they  tender 
of  his  honor?  do  they  fecond  the  word?  encourage 
the  good  ?  relieve  the  oppreffed  ?  compallio.'iate  the 
diftreAed  ?  and  fly  at  the  face  of  fin  and  finners,  a^; 
being  the  difturbers  of  our  peace,  and  the  only  caufc 
of  all  our  miferi'«3  ?  do  they  ftudy  how  to  do  the  ut- 
nioft  they  can  for  God  ?  to  improve  their  power  and 
parts,  and  wealth  and  honor,  and  all  their  Iiiterert 
for  the  greated  advantage  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrlfi:, 
as  men  that  mufl  Ihortly  give  an  account  of  their 
ftevvardlhip?  or  do  they  build  their  own  houfes,  and 
feek  their  advancements,  and  conteft  for  their  own  ho- 
nors, and  do  no  more  for  Ghrift  tlun  needs  they  muft, 
or  than  lies  in  their  way,  or  than  is  put  by  others  into 
their  hands,  or  than  Hands  with  the  pleafing  of  their 
friends,  or  with  their  worldly  intereft  ? 

And  how  tlunare  thofc  niiniflers  that  are  ferious  m 
their  work  1  Nay,  how  mightily  do  the  very  bell  fail 
in  this  1  Do  we  cry  out  of  men's  diibbedience  to  the 
gofpel  in  the  evidence  and  power  of  the  Spirit,  and 
deal  with  fiM,  as  that  which  is  the  fire  in  our  towns 
and  houfes,  and  by  force  pull  men  out  of  tlu5  fire  ? 
M 


184  The  SalnU^  Everlasting  Rest 


Do  we  pcrfuade  our  people,  as  thofe  that  know  tlie 
terrors  of  the  Lord  fhould  do  ?  Do  we  prefs  Ghrift, 
and  regeneration,  and  faith,  and  holinefs,  as  men  that 
believe  indeed,  that  without  thefe  they  ihall  never 
have  life  ?  Do  mir  bowels  yearn  over  the  ignorant,  and 
the  carelefs,  and  the  obftinate  multitude,  as  men  that 
believe  their  own  dodrine  ?  When  we  look  them  in 
the  face,  do  our  hearts  melt  over  them,  left  we  fliould 
never  fee  their  faces  in  reft  ?  Do  we  j>.s  Paul,  tell  them 
weeping,  of  their  flclhly  and  earthly  difpcfition  ?  And 
teach  them  publicly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe,  night 
and  day  with  tears  ?  And  do  we  entr#at  them,  as  if  it 
\rere  indeed  for  their  lives  ?  that  when  we  fpeak  of 
the  joys  and  miferies  of  another  world,  our  people 
may  fee  us  afFedted  accordingly,  and  perceive  thav  we 
mean  as  we  fpcak  ?  Or  rather,  do  we  not  ftudy  words? 
As  if  a  minifter's  bufmefs  were  but  to  tell  them  a 
fmooth  tale  of  an  hour  long,  and  fo  look  no  more  af- 
ter them  till  the  next  fermcn. 

Oh  the  formal,  frozen,  lifclefs  fcrmons  which  we 
daily  hear  preached  upon  the  moft  weighty,  piercing 
fubjeds  in  the  world  !  How  gently  do  we  handle  thofe 
r)ns,  which  will  handle  fo  cruelly  our  people's  fouls  I 
And  how  tenderly  do  we  deal  with  their  carelefs  hearts, 
not  fpeaking  to  them  as  men  that  muft  be  awakened 
or  damned  !  We  tell  them  of  heaven  and  hell  in  fuch 
a  flecpy  tone,  and  flight  way,  as  if  we  were  but  aft- 
ing  a  part  in  a  phiy  ;  fo  that  we  ufually  preach  our 
people  a  fleep  with  thofe  fubjefts,  which  one  would 
think  fliould  rather  endanger  the  driving  fome  befide 
themfelves. 

In  a  word,  our  want  of  fcrioufne^fs  about  the  things 
of  heaven,  doth  charm  the  fouls  of  men  into  formal- 
ity, and  hath  brought  them  to  this  cuftomary,  'care- 
lefs hearing,  which  undoes  them.  The  Lord  pardon 
the  great  fin  of  the  miniftry  in  this  thing,  and,  in  par- 
ticular, my  own. 


The  SalnU^  Everlasting  J^est.  13» 

And    are  the  people  any  more  fcrious  than  mogif- 
trates  and  minlflers  ?  How  can  it  be  expi  died  ?  RtaJ- 
cr,  look  but  to  ll  yfelf,  F.nd  itfcive  the  qutllicn.    A£c 
conlcience,  and  iiiffcr  it  to  tell  thee  truly.   Hail  t lie u 
ftt  thine  eternal  fefl  berore  thine  eyes  as  the  g-r?at  bu- 
fmefs,  which  thou  haft  to  do  in  this  v/oild?   Hafc  thcu 
Audied,  and    cared,  and  watch.td,   and  l.ihoured  with 
all   thy    might,  left   any  fliould   take  thy  crown  from 
thee  ?   Hall  thcu  made  hafle,    left  thou  llioLlcift  come 
too  late,  and  die  before  the  v,  ovk  be  doi.c  :    Kath  thy 
heart  been  fet  upon  it,  and  thy  d<;iires  and   thoughts 
run    out   this    way  ?      Haft    thcu    preiTed  on  through 
crowds  cf  ©ppofition  towards  the  mark^  for  th^  prize 
(jftke  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  fesus  ?  When  ycu 
have   fet  your  hand  to    the  work   of   God,  have  yoa 
done  it  wiih  all   your  might  ?   Can  ccni'cicwce  witucii 
your  fecret   cries,  and  grcans,    and  tears  ?   Can  your 
families  witnefs   that  you  have  taught   them  the  fear 
of  the    Lord,  and  warnsd    them   all    with  earneftnef* 
a;;d  unwcariednefs  to  remember  Gcd  and  their  fcuis? 
Or  that  you  have  dene  but  as  much  for  them,  as  that 
d<imned   glutton  would   have    had  Lazarus  do  for  hi| 
brethren  on   eajth,   to  warn  them  that  they  corce  net 
lo  that   place  of  torment?   Can  your  miiiifters  witne.s 
thav  they  have  heard  you  cry  out.  What  shall  Hue  do  to 
be  saved?  AnOi    that  you   have    followed    thern   with 
compraints  againft  your  corruptions,  and  with  earn^ft 
criGuiries  after  the  Lrrd  ?   Cap  your  neighboujs  abcut 
you  witnefs,  that    yt  u  are  dill  leariiing   of  them  tiiat 
are  able  to  inftru(f!t.  you?   And  that  you    plainly  and 
roundly  reprove  the  ungodly,  and  take  paJBs    for  the 
favitig  of  your  brethren's  fouls  ?  Let  all  thefe  Avitnefles 
judge  this   day  betv>^cen  God    and    you,  whether  ycu 
are  in  good  earncft  about  eternal  reft. 

Tint  if  yet  you  cannot  dlfcern  your  negkcls,  loc  k 
but  to  yourfelves  ;  within  ycu,  without  you,  to  the 
work  you  have  done  :  you  can  tell  by  his  work  whe- 
ther your  fervant  Ijath  loitevtd,  though  ycu    did    not 


156  The  Satntii*  Eijeylasiin^  Rest, 


fee  him  ;  fo  yoii  may  b}- yourfelves.  Is  your  lovct«. 
Chrifl,  your  faith,  your  zeal,  arid  other  graces,  ftrong 
or  weak  ?  Vvhat  are  your  joys  r  What  is  yciir  affnr- 
unce  ?  Ts  all  right  and  ftrong-,  and  in  order  -within 
you  ?  Are  you  ready  to  die,  if  this  fliould  be.  the 
liay  ?  Do  the  fouls  among  whom  you  have  converfcd^ 
blefs  you  ?  Why,  judge  by  this,  and  it  -will  quickly 
vjpp^nr  -^helhtr  you  have    been  iabsurers  or  loiterers. 


CHAP.     VI. 

An  ExJiortaiion  to   SerlGiisnGss  in  seeking  Rest. 

I  HOPE,  reader,  by  this  time  thou  art  fomewhat 
fenfible,  what  a  defpcrate  thing  it  is  to  trifle  about 
eternal  reft  ;  and  how  deeply  thou  hafl  been  ^quilty 
of  this  thyfclf.  And  I  hope  alio,  that  thou  darcil  not 
now  fnifer  this  convidllon  to  die  ;  but  art  refolved 
to  be  another  raan  for  the  tiaie  to  conie  :  What  fay- 
eft  thou  ?  1.3  this  thy  refolution  ?  If  thou  wert  ftck 
of  fome  delperate  difeafe,  and  the  phyfician  fliould 
•tell  tbae,  if  you  wili  obfervc  but  one  thing,  I  doubt 
Kot  to  cure  you  :  wor.ldft'  thou  not  oblerve  it  ?  AVhy, 
if  tlu-u  \viit  obferve  but  this  cr.e  thing  for  thy  foul, 
I  make  no  doub:  of  t!iy  falvation  ;  if  thou  wilt  now 
but  {hake  off  thy  iloth  and  put  to  all  thy  firength, 
r'nd  be  a  dov,nr''2,ht  cl^.rifiian.  i  know  not  what  can 
hinder  thy  jiappinefs.  As  far  as  tiiou  art  gone  frouj 
Ood,  if  thou  noyv  return  and  feekhim  with  thy  whole 
heart,  no  doubt  but  thou  flialt  find  him.  As  unkind-, 
ly,  as  thou  haft  dealt  with  Jefus  Chrift,  if  thou 
didft  but  f:-ei  th^'fclf  fick  and  dead,  and_  feek  him 
heartily,  and  apply  thyfelf  in  good  earneii  to  the  obe- 
dience of  his  laws,  thy  falvation  were  as  fureas  if  thou 
liadft  it  already  :  but  as  full  as  the  fatisfac'tlon  of  Chrl!t 
is,  as  free  as  the  promife  ip,  as  large  as  the  ir.erty  -cl 


The  Saints''  Ever  lotting  Rest,  i  S  f 

God  is  ;  yet  if  tlioii  do  b'lt  look  on  theie,  ?.nd  talk 
ot*  them,  whrn  thou  Ihouldfl:  greedily  entertain  thein, 
tho'J  v/llt  be  never  the  better  for  them  :  and  if  thou 
flioukift  loiter  when  thou  Oioulclfl  labour,  thou  xvilj: 
iofc  the  crown.  ()  fall  to  workthm  fpeedily,  and  fe- 
rioufiy,  and  blefs  God  th?it  tliou  haft  yet  time  to  do  it  ; 
and  though  that  which  h  psR  cannot  he  recalled,  yet 
redeem  the  time  now  by  doubling  thy  diligence. 

And  becaufe  thou  (halt  fee  I  ur,^e  thee  not  without 
cnnfe,  I  will  here  adjoin  a  multitude  of  con  fide  rati- 
ons to  move  thee  :  their  intent  and  ufe  is,  to  drive 
thee  from  delaying*,  and  from  loitering  in  fetking 
r-:(U  Whoever  thou  art  therefore,  I  entreat  thee  to 
roufe  up  thy  i'pirit,  and  give  me  awh.ile  thy  atten- 
tion, and  (as  Mofcs  faid  to  the  people)  Sit  thy  kcart  to 
all  the  Tjords  that  [  testify  to  ihee  this  day  :  for  it  i;not 
a  vain  things  but  it  is  for  thy  life*  Weigh  what  I  here 
write,  with  the  judv- ment  of  a  man  ;  '.\^^d  the  Lord 
open  thy  heart,  and  fallen  his  counfcl  e ffetftu ah y  up- 
on thee. 

i.  Confide"  our  affeftioiis  aiy.l  actions  fiiould  be 
anUverable  to  the  grcatnefs  of  the  ends  to  which  they 
are  Intended;  Now  tli;  enns  of  a  chriftian's  dGpires 
and  eiuaeavours  are  fo  great,  that  no  human  undcr- 
flanding  on  earth  can  comprt  hcn:l  them  ;  whether  ycu 
refpeti  their  proper  excellency,  tl:eir  exceeding'  im- 
porcajice,   or  tlieir  abfoiute  nec-;lhty. 

Thefe  ends  are,  the  glorifyin?  of  God,  the  falva. 
tion  of  cur  own  andotlitr  mtn's  fouls,  in  efcsplng  the 
tormen;:s  of  hell  and  pcrroiling  the  glory  of  heaven, 
Ai^id  can  a  man  be  too  niuch  affctleU  with  tilings  of 
fuch  moment  \  Can  he  defiie  th.em  too  earncl^ly,  or 
love  them  too  violently,  or  hbour  for  them  too  dili- 
gently ?  When  we  knov/  that  if  our  prr.y(  rs  pie\uii 
not,  and  cur  labour  fucc.^eds  not,  v,c  arc  undone  for 
iVi   2 


158  The  S^i/its^  Everlasting  Rent. 

cvei,  I  thlnl:  it  ccncerns  hs  to  feek  and  labour  to  t!:e 
pu'-pofc.  When  it  is  put  to  th*  cueftion,  whether  v/e 
Ihall  live  for  ever  in  heaven  or  in  hell  ?  and  the  quefti- 
on  mufr  be  refolved  upon  our  obeying  the  gcfpel,  or 
difobeying  it,  upon  the  painfulnefs  cr  the  flothfulnefs 
cf  cur  prefent  en.lcavours  ;  I  think  it  is  time  for  us 
to  ])eflir  ourfelvcs,  and  to  leave  our  trifling-  and  com- 
plimenting with  God* 

2.  Coi-jfiier,  cur  diligence  fnould  be  anf'.verable  to 
the  greatnefs  of  the  work  %vhich  we  have  to  do,  as 
Arell  as  to  the  esds  of  it. 

Now,  the  works  of  a  chriflian  here  are  very  many, 
and  very  great :  the  foul  mull  be  renewed  ;  many  and 
;:reat  corruptions  mortified  ;  cuftom,  temptations  and 
worldly  intereft  muft  be  conquered  ;  fleHi  mud  be 
m.iftered  ;  life  and  friends,  and  credit,  and  all  muft  be 
llightsd  ;  confcience  muft  be  upon  good  grounds  qui- 
tted ;  affurance  of  pardon  and  falvatlon  muft  be  at- 
tained.  And  though  It  is  God  that  muft  give  us 
4iiefe,  and  that  fisely,  without  our  own  merits  ;  yet 
M  ill. lie  not  give  them  without  oar  earneft  feeking  and 
labour. 

Ecfides,  there  Is  a  deal  of  kiKDwlcdje  to  be  got,  for 
the  guiding:  ourfclves,  fur  defending  the  truth,  for  the 
ciirecling  of  others,  and  a  deal  of  Ikill  for  th«  rrght 
managing  cf  our  parts  :  iiiany  ordinances  arc  to  be 
iji'ed,  and  duties  to  be  performed,  ordinary  and  ex- 
traordinary ;  every  age,  and  year,  ai:id  day>  doth  re- 
quire fr«{h  fucceliion  of  duty  ;  'every  place  we  #Qme 
in,  every  perfon  we  have  to  deal  with,  every  change 
of  cur  condition,  dcth  ftill  require  the  renewing  our 
labour,  and  bringeth  duty  along  with  it  :  ^^•ives, 
children,  fervants,  neigjibours,  friends,  en^mirs,  all 
rf  th';m  call  for  duty  f"om  us  :  and  all  this  of  great 
importance  too  ;  fo  that  for  the  moft,  if  we  mifcarry 
pH  it;  it  would  prove  our  undoing. 


The  Saints'^  EverkifiiirLg  R^.^t,  ISO 

Judge  then  yoinrtlves,  v/heiher  men  that  have  To 
much  buTinels  lying  upon  their  hnnds,  fhould  net  be- 
ftir  them  ?  And  whether  it  be  their  wifdom  either  to 
dehiy,  v>r  to  loiter  ?  • 

3.  Gonfider,  our  diligence  fliould  be  quickened,  be- 
caufe  of  the  fiiortnefs  and  uncertainty  of  the  time  al- 
lotted us  for  the  performing  of  all  this  work,  and  the 
many  and  t;reat  impediments  which  we  meet  v/ith. 
Yet  a  few  days,  an.d  we  (hall  be  here  no  more.  Time 
paiTeth  on  :  many  difeafes  are  ready  to  affault  us  ;  we 
that  now  are  preaciiing,  and  liearinv,  and  talking,  and 
walking,  mufl  very  fliortly  be  carried,  and  laid  in  the 
dud,  and  there  left  to  tli^  worms  in  darknefs  andcor- 
rupti©n  ;  we  arc  almofl:  there  already  ;  it  ii  but  a  few 
days,  or  months,  or  years,  and  what  is  that  when 
once  they  are  pafl  :  We  know  not  whether  we  fhall 
have  another  fernion,  orfabbath,  or  hour.  How  then 
fliould  thole  beftirthem  for  thsir  everlafling  reft,  who 
knovy'  tliey  have  fo  flioi-t  a  fpace  for  fo  great  a  work  ? 
Befides,  every  ftep  in  the  way  hath  its  dii1i<;ulties  :  tha 
gdte  is  struity  and  the  ivay  narrcrj  :  the  rightecus 
tJicmsel-jes  are  scar^ly  savsd.  Scandals  aiid  difcou- 
ragements  will  be  ftiii  cift  before  us  ;  and  c^n  ?;11  theft 
ie  overcome  by  liothful  endeavours  ? 

4.  Moreover,  our  diligence  fhould  be  anfwerable  to 
the  diligence  of  our  enemies  in  feeking  our  deflrucll- 
on.  For  if  we  fit  ftill  while  thty  are  plotting  and  la- 
bouriijg;  ;  or  if  we  be  lazy  in  our  defence,  while  they 
4re  dilii^en:  in  aff-iuhing  us,  you  may  eafily  conceive 
how  we  are  ;-!:tly  to  i.jecd.  How  diligent  is  Satan  in 
all  kinds  of  temptations  1  Tijcrcfore,  be  suixfr  a:idvigi' 
hntj  because  jOur  adv^sary,  the  dtvily  as  a  roaring 
lion  TO alketh about ^  sakingwhjjn  he  may  devour.  How 
diligeii^  are  ail  the  minilL-rs  of  Satan  1  r  alfe  teach- 
ers, fcorners  at  godlinefs,  maliciyus  perfecutors,  all 
uiiwearijd;  and  our  inward  corruption  the  moll  bufy 
Rud  diligent  of  :U1  :   wh.iUv5;r  vv'e  are  ubout,  it  ii  fdii 


140  The  SairJ.';^   Everla.stino-  Rest. 

o 

nniiling-  us  ;  depraving  our  dutifs,  perverting-  owr 
thoughts,  dulling'  our  afFrrdlions  to  good,  excitltig- 
them  to  evil  :  Pind  will  a  ft-eble  refiftance  ferve  our 
tui-ji  ?  Should  we  not  be  more  adlive  for  onr  ownpre- 
fer\'ationj  th:in  our  enemies  for  our  ruin  ? 

5,  Our  afFcr6lion'5  nnd  endeavours  Pnould  bear  fome 
proportiou  with  the  talents  wc  have  received,  and 
nicaus  we  have  enjoyed. 

It  may  well  be  expedcd  that  a  horfeman  fhould  go 
fifter  than  a  footman  :  and  he  that  hath  a  fwiftborfe, 
failer  than  he  that  hath  a  flow  one.  More  work  will 
be  cxpeiSlfd  from  a  found  man,  than  from  the  Pick  ; 
and  from  a  man  at  age,  than  from  a  ch.ild  ;  and  to 
whrim  men  conimit  much,  from  thean  they  will  ex- 
petl  the  more. 

Now  the  talents  v/hich  v.-e  have  received  are  many 
and  great  :  the  means  which  we  have  enjoyed  are  ve- 
ry many,  and  very  precious.  What  people  breathing 
on  earth,  have  had  plainer  inftrudlions,  or  more  forci- 
ble perfuafions,  or  ccriflant  admonitions,  in  feafon  and 
oat  of  fcafon  ?  Sermons,  till  we  have  been  weary  of 
tliein  :  and  fabbaths,  till  we  profaned  them  ?  Excel- 
Icnt  books  in  fuch  plenty,  that  we  know  not  which 
to  read  I  What  people  liave  had  Gcd  fo  near  them  as 
we  have  had  ?  Or  have  feen  Chrift,  as  it  were,  cruci- 
fied before  their  eyes,  as  we  have  done  ?  What  people 
liave  had  heaven  and  hell,  as  it  were,  opened  unto 
tlieni,  as  v/e  ?  Scarce  a  day  wherein  we  have  not  had 
feme  fpur  to  put  us  on.  What  fpc*ed  then  fhould  fuch 
a  people  make  for  heaven  ?  How  fhould  they  ^^y  that 
are  thus  winged  ?  And  how  fv»^iftly  Ibouid  they  fail 
that  have  wind  and  tide  to  help  them?  Believe  it, 
brethren,  God  looks  for  more  from  this  countr}^  than 
i\Q-ci\  moft:  nations  in  the  world  ;  and  for  more  from 
you  that  enjoy  thefe  helps,  than  from  the  dark  un- 
taught congregations  of  the  land.     A  fmail   meafure 


Tfie  Saints^  Everlasting    Rest,  141 

ofgrncs  l)"f'-jnr3  not  Inch  a  people  ;  nor  will  an  ordi- 
nary diliv^encf;  in  the  work  of  God,    excufe  them  I 

6.  The  virrour  of  our  affcdions  ?.ncl  adlions  fliould 
be  anfwerahic  to  the  great  cod  bellowed  upon  us,  and 
to  the  deep  engaging-  mercies  which  vn'c  have  receiv- 
ed iiom  GoJ.  Surely  we  owe  more  fervice  to  our 
raatler,  from  whom  we  have  our  maintenance,  than 
'9ie.  do  to  a  Arangcr,  to  whoin  r/e  were  never  be- 
holden. 

O  the  CO  ft  that  GoJ  hath  been  at  for  cur  fskes  ! 
The  riches  of  fea  and  1  ind,  of  heaven  and  earth,  hatk 
he  poured  cut  unto  Uo.  All  onr  lives  have  been  filled 
lip  with  mercies  ;  we  cannot  look  back  upon  one  hour 
of  it,  or  pafTage  in  it,  but  we  may  behold  mercy. 
We.  feed  upon  m>Mcy,  we  wear  mercy  upon  our  backs, 
■ft'-e  tread  upon  mercy  ;  m.:-rcy  within  us,  mercy  v/ith- 
out  us  for  th".s  life,  and  for"  that  to  come.  O  the  rare 
deliverances  that  we  have  partaken  of,  both  national 
knd  p;rfonal  1  How  oft,  hov;  feafonably,  how  fully 
liave  cur  prayers  been  heard,  ajid  our  fears  removed  I 
What  large  catalogues  of  particular  mercies  can  every 
chrinian  rehearfe  1  To  ofT.'r  to  number  them  would  be 
as  cndlefs  a  talk,  as  to  number  th.e  ftars,  or  t!;e  fuEus 
of  the  fliore. 

If  there  be  any  difTo-.cnce  betwixt  hell  (where  wc 
iliould  hare  been)  an.d  earth,  (where  we  "now  are)  y-a, 
or  heaven,  (which  is"  offered  to  us)  then  certaiiily  we 
have  received  mercy  :  yea,  if, the  blood  of  the  Son  oi,' 
God  be  merty.,  then  are  we  engaged  to  God  by  mer- 
cy ;  for  fo  much  did  it  cofl  hi'ji  to  recover  U6  to  hini- 
i^jlf.  And  fhould  a  people  of  fuch  d^ep  cngagemtnls 
be  la/.y  in  their  returns  ?  Shall  God  think  nothing 
too  umch  nor  too  good  for  us  ;  and  llml!  we  think  all 
too  much  that  we  do  for  him  ?  Thou  tlintart  an  cb- 
ferving  fenhble  man,  v/ho  knoweft  iiov/  much  th'ju 
art    b-holden  to   God,  I    appeal   to    thee,    is   :>■-:   u 


^The  Saints^  E'cer lasting  Rest. 

ng  j.-t.'rform?.nce  of  a  few  heartlefs  duties,  an 
u..  .orthy  requital  of  fiich  admirable  kindnffs  ?  For 
my  own  part,  when  I  compare  uiy  flow  and  unprofit- 
able life,  with  the  frequent  and  wonderful  mercies  re- 
ceived, it  fharncs  me,  it  filenceth  me,  and  leaves  me 
in  excu  fable. 

7.  ConHder,  all  the  relations  which  we  ftand  in 
toward  God,  call  upon  us  for  our  ucmoft  diiit^^ence. 
Should  not  the  pot  be  wholly  at  the  fervice  of  the 
potter,  and  the  creature  at  the  fervice  of  his  Creator? 
Are  we  his  children,  and  do  we  not  owe  him  our 
moft  tender  affcftions,  and  dutiful  obedience  ?  Are 
we  the  fpcufc  of  Chrift,  and  do  we  not  owe  him  our 
obfervance,  and  our  love  ?  If  he  be  our  father,  where 
is  his  honour  ?  and  if  he  be  our  mafter,  where  is  his 
fear  ?  We  call  him  Lord  and  Mafher,  and  we  do  well  : 
but  if  our  indufliy  be  not  anfwerable  to  our  relations, 
we  conden^n  ourlelves  in  faying,  we  are  his  children, 
or  his  fervants.  How  will  the  hard  labour  and  daily 
toil  that  fervants  undergo  to  pleafc  their  niafteis, 
judge  and  condemn  thofe  men  who  will  not  labour  fo 
hard  for  their  great  mafter  ?  Surely  there  is  none  have 
a  more  honourable  maRer  than  we,  nor  can  expect 
inch  fruit  of  their  labuurs. 

8.  How  clofe  fnor.ld  they  ply  their  work,  wh© 
have  fuch  uttendants  as  we  have  1  All  the  v.orld  are  our 
fervants,  that  we  may  be  the  fervants  of  God.  The 
fun,  and  moon,  and  flars,  attend  us  with  their  light 
and  influence  :  the  earth,  with  all  its  furniture,  is  at 
our  fei  vici  :  how  inany  thoufand  plants,  and  flowers, 
and  fruits,  and  birds,  and  bcalh,  do  all  attend  us  ? 
The  fca  with  its  iiihabitnr.rs,  the  air,  the  wind,  tho 
froft  a:id  fnow,  the  heat  and  fire,  the  cloud*  and  rain, 

.  all  wait  upon  us  v,  lule  wc  do  our  work  :  yea,  the  an-. 
gels  are  ministering  spirit:,  for  us.  And  is  it  iiot  an  in- 
tolerable crime  for  us  to  tril^e,  while  all  theie  ar;^  em* 
ploy^.'d  to  aQift  U5  I    Nay  more  ;  the  patience  of  God 


The  Saints'  E-jerlastin^  Rest.  U3 


doth  wait  upon  us  :  the  Lord  Jcfus  Child  wait- 
cth,  ill  the  offers  of  his  blood  :  the  holy  Spirit  walt- 
cth,  in  flrivin;:^  with  our  backward  hearts:  befides, 
all  his  iervants,  the  miiiifteri  of  his  gofpel,  who  ftu- 
dy  and  wait,  and  preach  and  wait,  and  pray  and  wait 
upon  carelefs  iinners  :  and  (hall  angels  and  men,  yea 
the  Lord  himfclf,  ftand  by  ar-d  look  on,  while  thou 
doft  nothing  ? 

O  clnifllans,  I  befeech  you,  whenever  you  are  on 
3''our  knees  in  prayer,  or  reproving  the  tranfgrefibrs,  or 
exhorting-  the  obflinate,  or  upon  any  duty,  do  but  re- 
member what  attendants  you  have  for  this  work  :  and 
then  judge  how  it  behoves  you  to  perform  it. 

9.  How  forward  and  painful  (hould  we  be  in  that 
work,  where  we  are  fure  we  can  never  do  enough  ?  If 
there  were  any  danger  in  over  doing,  then  it  might 
well  caufe  men  to  moderate  their  endeavours  :  but  we 
know,  that  if  wc  could  do  all^  ive  ivere  but  unprojitam 
bU  servants  ;   much  more  when  we    fail  in  all. 

It  is  true,  a  man  may  pofTibly  preach  too  much,  or 
hear  too  much,  (though  I  have  known  few  tkat  did 
fo)  but  yet  no  man  can  obey  orferve  God  too  much: 
one  duty  may  be  fald  to  be  too  long,  v/hen  it  fhuts  out 
another  ;  and  then  it  ceafeth  indeed  to  be  a  duty.  And 
all  iuperftition,  or  worlliip  of  our  own  deviling,  may 
be  called  a  righteoufnefs  over  much  :  yet  as  long  as  you 
keep  your  fervlce  to  the  rule  of  the  word,  you  never 
need  to  fear  being  righteous  over  much  ;  for  elfe  we 
fliould  reproach  the  Lord  and  Lawgiver  of  the  church, 
as  if  he  commanded  us  to  do  too  much. 

If  the  Avorld  were  not  mad  v/ith  malice,  they  could 
never  be  fo  blind  in  this  point  as  they  are  to  think 
that  diligence  for  Chrifl,  is  folly  and  Angularity  :  and 
that  they  who  fet  themfelves  wholly  to  feck  eternal  life, 
are  but  precife  Puritans  !  The  time  is  near,  when  they 


144  The  Sahits'*  Everlaating  Rest, 

will  caGly  cenfcfs,  that  God  could  not  be  loved  or 
ferved  too  much,  and  that  no  man  can  be  too  buly  to 
fave  his  foul  :  for  the  world  you  may  tafily  do  to© 
much,  but  herein  (in   God's  way)  you  canriot. 

10.  Confider,  they  that  trifle  in  the  way  to  heaven, 
lofe  all  their  labour.  If  two  be  running  in  a  race,  he 
that  runs  flowed,  had  as  good  never  run  at  all :  for  he 
h^leth  the  prize  and  his  labour  both.  Many,  who  like 
AgrippOy  ere  but  almost  christians^  will  £nd  in  the  end 
they  ihall  be  but  almcfl  favcd.  God  hath  fet  the  rate 
at  which  the  pearl  mud  be  bought  ;  if  you  bid  a  penny 
lefs,  you  had  as  good  bid  nothing.  As  a  man  that  is 
lifdng  up  fome  weighty  thing,  if  he  put  to  almoll 
flrength  enough,  it  is  as  good  he  put  to  none  at  all, 
for  he  doth  but  lofe  all  his  labour. 

O  how  many  profeffors  of  chriftianity  will  find  this 
true  to  their  forrow,  who  have  had  a  mind  to  the  ways 
of  God,  and  have  kept  up  a  dull  talk  of  duty,  but  ne- 
ver came  to  ferious  chriftianity  !  How  many  a  duty 
have  they  loft,  for  want  of  doing  them  throughly  I 
Many  shall  seek  to  enter  and  not  be  able  ;  who,  if  they 
had  driven  might  have  been  able.  O  therefore  put  U) 
a  little  more  diligence  and  drength,  that  all  be  not  m 
vain  that  you  have  done  already  ! 

1 1.  Furthermore,  we  have  lod  a  great  deal  of  time 
•already,  and  therefore  it  is  reafon  that  we  labour  Jo 
much  the  harder.  If  a  traveller  deep,  or  trifle  out 
mod  of  the  day,  he  mud  travel  fo  much  the  fader  in 
the  evening,  or  fall  diort  of  his  journey's  end.  With 
fomc  of  us  cur  childhood  and  youth  is  gone  ;  witb 
fome  alfo  their  middle  age,  and  the  time  before  us  is 
very  uncertain.  What  a  deal  of  time  have  we  flept 
away,  and  talked  away,  and  played  away  ?  What  a 
deal  have  we  fpent  in  worldly  thoughts  and  labours, 
or  in  mere  idlcnefs  ?  Though  in  likelihood  the  m.cft 
of  our  time  is  fpent,  yet  how    little    of   cur  work  rs 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  145 

done  ?  And  is  it  not  time  to  beRir  ouiTelves  in  tbe 
evening  of  our  days  ?  Tiie  time  which  we  have  lofl 
can  never  be  recalled  ;  fhould  v;e  not  then  redeem  it 
fey  improving  the  little  which  remaineth  ?  You  may- 
receive  indeed  an  equal  rccompf.nse  ivith  those  that 
have  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day 'i  thougJiyou 
came  not  in  till  the  last  hour  ;  but  then  you  muft  hfi 
fure  to  labour  diligently  that  hour.  It  is  enough 
fure  that  v^ehave  loft  fo  much  of  our  lives.  Let  us  not 
now  be  fo  foolifli  as  to  loie.  the  reH:. 

12.  Confider  the  great^-r  are  your  layings-out,  the 
greater  will  be  your  coniings-in.  Though  you  may 
feem  to  lofc  your  labour  at  the  prefent,  yet  the  hour 
Cometh  when  you  fhiill  find  it  with  advantage.  The 
feed  which  is  buried  and  dead,  will  bring  forth  a  plen- 
tiful increafe  at  the  harveft.  Whatever  you  do  and 
whatever  you  fuffer,  everkfting  reft  will  pay  for  all. 
There  is  no  repenting  of  labours  and  fufferings  in 
heaven  ;  none  fays,  "  would  I  had  fpared  my  pains 
and  prayed  lefs,  or  been  iefs  ftridl,  and  did  as  the 
reft;  of  my  neighbours  did  ;"  there  is  never  fuch  a 
thought  in  heaven  us  thefe.  But  on  the  contrary,  it 
will  be  their  joy  to  look  back  upon  their  labours,  and 
confider  how  the  mighty  power  of  God  did  biing 
them  through  all.  Whoever  complained  that  he  came 
to  h«aven  at  too  dear  a  rate  ;  or  tliat  his  falvatiou  cofl 
him  more  labour  than  it  was  worth  ?  We  may  fay  of 
all  our  labours,  as  Paul  of  his  fufferings,  I  reckon  that 
the  sufferings  ( and  labours)  of  this  present  tirne,  are 
not  TJortJiy  to  be  compared  loith  the  glory  that  shall  be 
revealed.  We  labour  but  for  a  moment,  but  we  fhall 
rell  for  ever.  Who  would  not  put  forth  all  his  ftrengtii 
for  one  hour,  when  he  may  be  a  prince  while  he  lives  ? 

Oh,  what  is  the  duty  and  fufferings  for  a  fliort  life, 
in  refpeA  of  endlefs  joys  with  God  ?  Will  not  ell  our 
tears  then  be  wiped  aivay  ?and  all  the  fbrrows  of  our 

N 


14o  Tht  Saints'*  £verla$ti?2p-  ^^t. 


ilntles  forgotten  ?  but  yet  the  Lord  will  not  forget 
them  :  for  he  is  not  unjust  to  forget  onr  ivork  and  lam 
hour  of  /ova. 

13.  Conncler,  violence  and  laborious  ftriving  for 
falvatlon,  is  the  >vay  that  the  wifdoni  of  God  hath 
directed  us  to,  as  bell,  and  his  fovereign  authority- 
appointed  us  as  necelfaiy.  Who  knows  the  ^vay  to 
heaven  better  than  the  God  of  heaven  ?  When  men 
tell  us  that  we  are  too  flric\,  whom  clo  they  accufe, 
God,  or  us?  If  we  do  no  more  than  what  we  are 
commanded,  nor  fo  much  neither  ;  they  may  ?s  well 
f:iy,  God  hath  made  laws  which  are  too  flrid.  Sure- 
if  it  were  a  fault,  it  Avould  lie  in  bin.-:  that  commands, 
and  not  in  us  who  obey.  And  dare  thefe  men  think 
that  they  are  wifer  than  God  ?  Do  they  know  better 
than  he,  what  men  muft  do  to  be  faved  ?  Thefe  arc 
the  men  that  aik  us,  whether  we  are  w^ifer  than  all 
the  world  befides  ;  and  yet  they  will  pretend  to  be 
wifer  than  God,  What  do  they  lefs,  when  God  bid<; 
us  take  the  moft  diligent  csurfe,  and  they  tell  us,  it 
is  more  ado  than  needs  ?  Mark  well  the  language  of 
God,  and  fee -how  you  can  reconcile  it  with  the  lan- 
guage of  the  world  :  '^  The  kingdom  of  heaven  fuffer- 
cth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force.  Strive 
to  enter  in  at  the  ftrait  gate  ;  for  many  fliall  feek  to  en- 
ter in  and  not  be  able.  Whatfoever  the  hand  fmdeth 
to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might  ;  for  there  is  no  work, 
r,or  device,  nor  knowledge,  or  wifdom  in  the  grave, 
\\hither  t':ou  goift.  Work  out  your  falvation  with 
fear  and  trembling.  Give  diligence  to  make  your  cal- 
ling and  election  fure.  If  the  righteous  fcarcely  be  fa- 
ved, where  fliall  the  ungodly  and  Qnuerapprar  ?" 

This  is  the  cdnftant  language  of  Chrift  :  and  which 
fliall  I  follow,  God  or  men  ;  yea,  and  that  the  worfl 
and  mod  wicked  men  ?  fhall  I  think  that  every  ig- 
norant worldly  fot,  that  can  only  call  a  man  a  Puritan, 
knows  more  than  Chrifl,  or  can  tell  God  how  to  mend- 


The  Saints'  EvcrlaJtln-r  Rest.  1-.7 

o 

ihe  fcripUn<"s  ?  Let  them  'o'  Ing  :tll  tl-.e  fccnv.ng  rcircii 
they  can  againlt  the  holy,  m  )lcnt  ftriving  cfthe  iV.ii.ts; 
and  this  fufHceth  me  to  ccritute  them  til,  that  God  is  of 
another  mind,  and  he  hath  comniaiided  me  to  do  miUth 
mere  than  I  do  :  and  though  I  could  fee  no  reafon  for 
it,  yet  liis  v/ill  Is  rcafon  enough  to  me:  1  am  iure 
Gt.d  is  worthy  to  rovcrn  r.s,  if  we  were  bcttJi-  thr.ii 
we  are.  Who  fhould  muke  hiws  for  lu-,  but  he  that 
made  us  ?  And  who  fiiould  mark  out  the  way  to 
hea^'v.Mi,  but  he  that  mull  bring  us  thither  ?  and  whu 
{h.cJadd  d^ttrn-inc  on  what  conditions  we  fliallbe  faved, 
but  he  that  beftows  the  gif:  of  falvation  ?  So  that  let 
the  world,  or  ths  fiefh,  or  tiie  devil,  fpjak  againit  a 
holy  laborious  courie,  this  is  my  anfwcTj  God  hath 
commanded"  it. 

14.  Moreover,  it  is  a  courfe  that  all  men  in  the 
world  either  do,  or  will  approve  of.  71-.ere  is  not 
a  man  that  ever  was,  or  is,  or  ihall  be,  butihail  one 
day  juftify  the  ddigence  of  the  faints.  And  viio 
would  not  go  that  way,  which  every  ma:i  liiall  ap- 
ih.uJ  : 

It  is  true,  it  Is  now  a  *way  every  'zvhere  spoken  aralnst^ 
ehd  hated  :  but  Itt  me  tell  you,  1.  Mofl  that  ipeak 
iigainit  it,  in  their  judgments  approve  of  it  ;  only  be- 
caufe  the  practice  of  godlintfs  is  againflithe  pleafures 
of  the  fic'fh,  therefore  do  they,  again fi  their  own  judg- 
ments, re  (id  it.  'i'hcy  have  not  one  word  of  realon 
againft  it,  but  reproaches  and  railing  are  their  belt 
arguments.  2.  Thofe  that  are  new  agalnfl  it,  whe- 
ther in  judgment  or  paifion,  will  Ihortly  be  of  another 
Ji-ind,  If  they  come  to  heaven,  theii- mind  mud  be 
Chaiij;.-/J  bfforc  tlicy  come  there.  I'i  thc-y  go  to  hell, 
th-lr  ••■       .i.:-L  v.;!i  th  n  be  altered,  whether  thcv  will 


or 


k    with  ev.-ry  foul  th:  t  fufTcrcth 
.  whether  ,.:  be  poiiiblc  to  be 


!4S  Tke  Saints-  Everlasting  Rest, 

too  diligent  and  fciioiis  in  fcckinrfalvation,  you  may 
eafiiy  conjeclure  \vliat  anfwer  chey  would  return.  Take 
the  n^oA  bitter  derider  or  perfrcutor  of  godliiiefs,  even 
triole  that  will  venture  ihelr  lives  to  overthrow  it, 
if  th'jfe  men  do  not  fliortly  vrilh  a  thoufiinJ  times  that 
they  had  been  t\\t  moH:  holy,  diligent  chriftians  on 
e?.rth,  then  let  me  bear  the  {hu;:>e  of  a  faU'e  prophet 
forever,^ 

Remember  this,  you  that  will  be  of  the  opinion  and 
^vay  that  moft  arc  of;  why  will  you  not  be  of  the 
opinion  then  that  all  will  be  fuortly  of?  Why  will 
you  be  of  a  judgmeiu  which,  you  are  furc  you  Iliail  all 
fliortly  change  ?  O  that  you  were  but. as  wile  in  this, 
as  thofe  in  hell !    . 

I'l.  Confider,  They  that  have  been  the  mofi:  feri- 
6u3,  painful  chrifti.ins,  when  they  come  to  die,  ex- 
ceedingly lament  their  ncgligenc:-.  Tluife  that  have 
wholly  addided  themfclves  to  the  work  of  God,  and 
have  made  it  tlie  bufinefs  of  their  Tnrs,  and  have 
flighted  the  world,  and  mortihcd  the  fieih,  and  have 
been  the  wonders  of  the  world  for  their  heavenly  con- 
verfations  ;  yet  when  confcjence  is  deeply  awakened, 
how  do  their  failings  wound  tliem  ?  Even  thofe  that 
are  hated  and  derided  by  the  world  for  being  foftrid, 
and  are  thought  to  be  almoll  bejide  themfclves  for  their 
extraordinary  diligence  ;  yet  commonly  when  thty  lie 
a  dving,  wifii,  O  that  they  had  becH  a  thoufand  times 
more  holy,  more  heavenly,  more  laboriLUS  for  their 
ibuls  1  What  a  cafe  thei)  ^\ili  the  negiigt-nt  world  be 
in,  when  their  confcicnces  are  av/akencd,  when  th'='y 
lie  dying,  and  look  behind  them  upon  a  lazy,  negli- 
gent lite  ;  and  look  bcfure  them  upon  a  fevere  and  ter- 
r/nle  judgment  ?  What  an  elicem  will  th-^y  liave  oi'  a 
holy  life  ?  For  n^y  own  part,  I  may  fay  ^.s  I:lriifn)us, 
I*  They  accufe  me  for  doing  too  much,  but  my  own 
<t  confcience  accufcth  me  for  doiiig  too  little,  and  be- 
'»  ing  too  flow  :  aiid  it  is  far  eafier  bearing  the  Icorns 


> 


The  Saints^  Everiasiinrr Rest.  iiO 

"  of  the  world,  thsn  the  icourges  cf  conftiencf."  TI  c 
world  lpei:l;s  at  a  d'ftancc  v;ithoiit  me,  ib  thai  the  iigli 
I  heur  their  words,  I  can  choc^fe  whether  I  will  Icel 
thf-m:  hut  my  coiifcience  fpoaks  withiiii  at  the  very 
heart,  lb  that  every  check  doth  pierce  me  to  the  qiiick, 
Cor.fclence,  when  it  reprehends  jullfly,  is  tlio  mcff-n- 
ger  of  God  :  ungodly  revilers  are  the  voice  of  th^* 
devil.  I  had  rather  be  reproaciied  hy  the  devil  for 
feekinrj  ialvation,  than  reproved  of  God  for  negltainc; 
it  :  I  had  rather  the  world  fhould  call  me  Puritan  in  the 
devil's  name,  than  confciencc  fhculd  call  me  loiterer 
in  God's  name.  As  God  and  confciencc  are  more 
ufeful  friends  than  Satan  and  the  world  ;  fo  are  thcjr 
more  dreadful,  irrefiftible  energies. 

And  thus,  reader,  I  have  fiiewed  thee  fiifiicient  rea- 
f«n  againft  thy  llothfulneis  and  negligence,  if  ihou  b© 
not  a  man  relblved  to  f}jut  thine  eyes,  ajid  to  dcQroy 
thylelF,  Yet,  left  all  this  fliould  kot  prevail,  I  will 
add  fomewhat  more,  to  perfuade  thee  to  be  fericus  iii 
tky  endeavours  for  heaven. 

1.  Confider,  God  is  in  good  earned  with  you  ;  and 
why  then  Oioold  you  not  be  fa  with  him  ?  la  his  com- 
Kiands,  he  means  as  he  fpeaks,  and  will  verily  require 
your  real  obedience.  In  his  threatenin^^rs  he  is  lerious, 
and  will  make  them  all  good  againft  the  rebellioua. 
In  his  promifes  he  is  ferious,  and  Avill  fulfJ  them  to 
th.e  obedient,  even  to  the  leaft  titiie.  In  his  judg- 
ments he  is  ferious,  as  he  will  make  Iris  cneaii^-s  know 
to  their  terror.  Was  not  God  in  good  eas reft  when 
he  drowned  the  world,  when  he  confumed  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  when  he  fcattercd  tl:e  Jews  ?  And  very 
fiiortly  will  lay  h«ld  on  his  enemies,  partlculaily  man 
by  man,  and  m^ike  them  know  that  he  is  in  good 
CArneft  :  efpecially  when  it  comes  to  the  great  reckon- 
ing day.  And  is  it  time  then  for  us  to  dally  ?/ith 
God  ? 

N  2 


150  The  Saiiita^  Everlastinq-  Rest, 


■<b 


2.  Jcfus  Chrift  Avas  ferloui  in  purcliafiiig-  our  re- 
tlemption.  Pie  was  ferloiisiiUeacliing,  ivhen  he  neglect- 
ed  his  meat  and  drink,  John  iv.  32.  He  was  ferlous 
in  praying-,  luhen  he  continued  all  ni-^ht  at  it.  He  was 
ferious  in  doing  good,  ivhenhis  kindred  came  and  laid 
hands  en  him,  thinking  he  had  been  beside  himself. 
He  was  ierious  in  fulfering,  "  when  he  fafted  forty- 
days,  was  tempted,  betrayed,  fpit  on,  buffeted,  crown- 
ed with  thorns,  fweat  blood,  was  crucified,  pierced, 
died."  There  was  no  jelling  in  all  this  :  and  fliould  we 
not  be  ierious  in  fecking  our  ovn  ialvation  ? 

3.  The  Holy  Ghofl  Is  ferious  in  follciting  us  for 
our  happlnefs  :  his  motions  are  frequent  and  prelfing, 
and  importunate  :  he  Ariveth  with  our  hearts.  He 
is  grieved  when  we  refift  him  ;  and  fhoulci  not  we  then 
be  ferious  in  obeying  his  motions,  and  yielding  to  his 
iuit  ? 

4.  How  ferious  and  diligent  are  all  the  creatures 
in  their  ferviee  to  thee  ?  What  haRe  makes  the  fun  to 
compafs  the  world  ?  And  how  truly  doth  it  return  at 
its  appointed  hour  ?  So  do  the  moon  and  other  plajiets. 
The  iprings  are  always  flowing  for  thy  ufe  ;  the  rivers 
ItlU- running  ;  the  fpring  and  harveft  keep-  their  times. 
How  hard  doth  thy  ox  labour  for  thee  from  day  to 
day?  How  painfully  and  Ipeedily  doth  thy  horfe  bear 
thee  in  travel  ?  And  fliall  all  thefe  be  laborious,  and 
thou  only  negligent  ?  fnall  they  all  be  fo  ferious  in 
ferving  thee,  and  yet  tl:ou  be  fo  (light  in  thy  ferviee  |] 
to  God  ?  .-f, 

5.  ConfiJer,  the  fervants  of  the  world  and  the  de- 
\\\  are  ferious  and  diligent ;  they  ply  their  work  con- 
tinually, as  if  they  could  never  do  enough  :  they  meike 
hafte,  and  march  furicufly,  as  if  they  were  afraid  of 
coming  to  hell  too  late  :  they  bear  down  miniflcrs,  and 
fermons,  and  counfel  and  all  before  them.  And  ihall 
they  do   more  for   the  devil j  than  thou    wilt  do  for 


■The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rtst,  151 

God?  Or  be  inore  ciiHg-ent  for  damnation,  than  thou 
ivilt-be  for  ialvution  ?  Haft  not  lliou  a  better  mailer  ? 
and  fweeter  employment  ?  and  fweeter  encouragement 
and  a  better  reward  I 

6.  There  is  no  jefting  in  heaven,  nor  in  hell.  The 
faints  have  a  real  happinefu,  and  the  damned  a  real 
mifery  ;  the  fuints  are  ftrious  and  high  in  their  joy 
and  praife  ;  and  the  damned  arc  fericus  and  deep  iu 
their  forrow  and  complaints.  Tliere  are  no  rcmifs 
or  lleepy  praifes  in  heaven  ;  nor  any  remits  or  fleepy 
iamentations  in  hell  :  all  men  there,  are  in  good 
earneft.  And  Ihould  we  not  then  be  ferlous  now  ?  I 
dare  promlfe  thee,  the  thoughts  of  thefe  things  will 
fnortly  be  ferious  thoughts  v/ith  thyfelf.  When  thou 
comeftto  death  or  judgment,  O  what  deep  heart  pier- 
cing thoughts  wilt  thou  have  cf  eternity  !  Methinks 
I  forefee  thee  already  aftonifhed,  to  think  how  thou 
ccuUrt  poiiibly  make  fo  light  of  thefe  things  1  Me- 
thinks I  even  hear  thee  crying  out  of  thy  ilupidity 
and  madnefs  I 

And  now  having  laid  thee  down  thefe  undeniable 
arguments,  I  do  in  the  name  of  God  demand  thy  re- 
folution  :  What  fayeft  thou  ?  Wilt  thou  yield  obedi- 
ence or  not  ?  I  am  confident  thy  confcience  is  con- 
vinced of  thy  duty.  Darcft  thou  now  go  on  in  thy 
comnien  careleis  courfe,  againft  the  plain  evidence  of 
reaion  and  commands  of  God,  and  againft  the  light 
of  thy  own  confcience  ?  Darcft  thou  live  as  loofely, 
a!id  fin  as  boldly,  and  pray  as  fcldo.n,  and  as  coUily 
as  before  ?  Dureft  thou  now  as  earn -illy  fpend  the  fab- 
batii,  and  fluniber  over  the  fervice  of  God  U5  llight- 
ly,  and  think  of  thine  everlafting  ftate  as  carelefsly  as 
before  ?  Or  doft  thou  not  rather  refolve  to  gird  up  the 
loins  of  thy  mind,  and  to  fet  thyfelf  wholly  about  the 
work  of  thy  falvation  ;  and  to  do  it  Aviih  all  thy 
mlghr.  ;  and  to  break  over  all  the  oppolitions  of  the 
world,  v.nd  to  iiight  all  their  fconis  and  perfccucions  j 


lo2  I'he  Saint^'^  Lvcrlat^ting  Reit. 

"  to  cad  <nT  the  u-ei;:;ht  that  hangeth  on  thee  ;  and  the 
fin  that  cloth  (o  t?X\\y  befetthce  ;  and  to  run  with  pa- 
tience and  ipedd  the  race  that  is  fct  before  thee  ?"  I 
hcpe  thefe  are  thy  fall  lefolutions;  it'thou  art  well  in 
thy  wits,  I  am  fure  they  are. 

Yet  becaufe  I  know  th.c  flrange  obflinacy  of  the 
heai  t  pf  man,  and  becanfe  I  would  fain  leave  thefe 
perfuafions  faA.ened  in  thy  heart,  th::t  fo,' if  itbepof- 
fible,  thou  mightefl  be  awakened  to  thy  duty,  and  thy 
f^ul  might  live  :  I  fliall  proceed  with  thee  yet  a  little 
further  ;  and  I  once  more  entreat  thee  to  ftir  up  thy 
attention,  and  go  along  with  mc  in  the  free  and  fober 
life  of  thy  reafon,  while  I  propound  thefe  following 
c'jertions  :  and  I  command  thee  from  God,  that  thou 
rcGR  not  conviction,  but  anfwer  them  faithfully,  and 
obey  accordingly. 

1.  CYuest,  If  yon  could  grow  ricfi  by  religion,  or 
get  lands  and  lordfiiips  thereby  ;  or  if  you  could  get 
honor  or  preferment  by  it  in  the  world  ;  or  could  be 
recovered  from  ficknefs  by  it,  or  could  live  for  ever 
in  profperlty  on  earth  :  what  kind  of  lives  would  you 
then  lead,  and  what  pains  would  you  t.ike  in  the  fer- 
vice  of  God  ?  And  is  «ot  the  E-efl  of  the  faints  a 
more  excellent  happinefs  than  all  this  ? 

2.  '^lest.  If  the  law  of  the  land  did  puulfli  every 
breach  of  the  fabbath,  or  every  omillion  of  family- 
duties,  or  fecret  duiies;  or  every  cold  and  heartlefs 
prayer,  with  death  :  if  it  we^'e  felony  or  treafon  to  be 
negligent  in  worihip,  and  loofe  in  your  lives  ;  what 
manner  ofpsrlbns  would  you  then  be?  and  what  lives 
would  you  lead  ?  xV.id  is  not  eternal  death  more  ter- 
rible   than  teirspond  ? 

3.  '^tt'st.  If  it  were  God's  ordinary  courfe  to  pu- 
nlTa  every  f.n  with  iome  prefent  judgment,  fo  that 
every  tiiiie  a  iiian  fv,'ears,  or  is  drunk,  or  fpeaks  a  lie> 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  153 

or  l)ackbiteth  his  neighbour,  he  fliould  be  ftruck  dead 
or  blind,  or  lame,  in  the  place  :  if  God  did  punifli 
every  cold  prayer,  or  negltdl  of  duty  ^vith  fome  re- 
markable pln'^uc  ;  what  manner  of  pcrfons  would  you 
be  ?  If  you  fliould  fuddenly  fall  down  dead  like  Ana- 
nias and  Sr.ppbira  with  the  fin  in  your  hands  ;  or  the 
plague  of  God  fliir>uld  feizc  upon  you  as  upon  the 
Ifraclltes,  while  their  fweet  morfels  Avere  yet  in  their 
mouths  :  If  but  a  mark  ihould  be  fet  in  the  forehead 
of  every  one  that  negledled  a  duty,  or  committed  a 
fm  ;  what  kind  of  lives  would  you  then  lead  ?  And  is 
not  eternal  wrath  more  terrible  than  all  this  ? 

4.  'shiest.  Ifyoii  had  feen  the  general  diffolution  of 
the  world,  and  all  the  pomp  and  giory  of  it  confum- 
cd  to  afhes  ;  if  you  faw  all  on  fire  about  you,  fump- 
tuous  buildings,  cities,  kingxloms,  land,  water,  earth, 
heaven,  all  flaming-  about  your  ears  :  if  you  had  feeu 
all  that  men  laboured  for,  and  fold  their  fouls  for, 
g-one  ;  friends  gone  ;  the  place  of  your  former  abode 
gone;  the  hlftory  ended,  and  all  come  down:  what 
would  fuch  a  2,^ht  as  this  perfuade  you  to  do  ?  Why, 
fuch  a  fight  thou  fliak  certainly  fee.  I  put  my  quc- 
fiion  to  thee  in  the  words  of  the  apoftle,  2  Pet.  iii. 
*'  Seeing  all  thefe  things  fliali  be  diffoived,  Avhat  manner 
of  perfons  ought  you  to  be  in  all  hsly  converfation  and 
goalinefs,  lorkiiig  for,  and  haRing  unto  the  coming  of 
the  day  of  God,  wherein  the  heavens  being  on  fire  fliail 
be  dilTcdved,  and  the  elements  t'hall  melt  withierveiit 
heat  ?"  As  if  he  fiiould  fay,  we  cannot  pcflibly  conceive 
or  exprefs  vv-hat  m?.nner  of  perfons  we  (hould  be  in  all 
iiolinefs  and  godlinefs,  when  we  do  but  think  of  the 
fudden,  and  certain,  and  terrible  dilToiution  of  all 
tilings  belov/. 

5.  '^lest.  What  if  you  had  feen  tlie  prccefs  of  the 
judgment  of  the  great  day  ?  If  you  had  Icen  the  judg- 
ment fct,  and  the  the  books  opened,  and  tlje  mofl.  ftand 
trembling  on  the  left  hand  of  the  judge,  and  Chrilt 


1 54-  The  SairJs^  Everlasting  Rest» 

liimfelf  acciinng  them  of  their  rebellions  and  negle(f^s, 
and  remembering- theiii  of  all  their  foiiner  {lightings  of 
his  grace,  and  at  lalt  condemning  them  to  perpetual 
perdition  ?  If  you  had  fcen  the  godly  (landing  on  the 
right  hand,  and  Jefus  Chrift  acknowledging  their  faith- 
ful obedience,  and  acljudging  them  to  the  j^ofTcfilon  of 
t!iC  joy  of  their  Lord  ?  What  manner  of  pcrions  would 
you  have  been  after  fuch  a  fight  as  this  ?  Why,  this 
fight  thou  Pnalt  one  dnylee,  as  fure  as  thou  liveft. 
And  why  thtn  Pnould  not  the  toreknovvlcdge  of  fuch  tt 
day  awake  thee  to  thy  duty  ? 

6.  ^'/c?/.  What  if  yon  had  once  feen  hell  open, 
and  all  the  damned  there  in  their  ccafelcis  torments, 
and  had  heard  them  crying  out  of  their  flothfulncfs 
in  the  day  of  their  vifitatlcn,  and  wifirng  that  they 
had  but  another  life  to  live,  and  that  God  would  but 
try  them  once  again  ?  one  ci  ying  out  of  his  negle(fit 
of  duty,  and  another  of  his  K^itering  and  trifiin^ 
when  he  fhciild  have  b«en  L-.bcurirg  for  his  life  ?  What 
manner  of  perfons  would  you  have  been  after  fuch  a 
light  as  this  ?  What  if  ycu  \v?A  feen  heaven  opened, 
r.s  Stephen  did,  aRa  all  the  faints  there  triumphing  in 
glory,  and  cnjf^ying '.he  tvA  of  their  labours  and  fuf- 
ferings  ?  What  a  hie  v/culdyou  lead  after  I'uch  a  fight 
as  this?  Why,  you  will  fee  this  v»'ith  your  eyes  before 
it  be  long. 

7.  'bluest.  AVhat  if  you  liad  hin  in  l.ell  but  one  year, 
or  one  day,  or  hour,  and  there  felt  thoic  torments  that 
now  you  do  but  hear  of?  and  God  (hould  turn  you 
into  the  woild  again,  and  try  you  with  another  life- 
time, and  fay,  1  will  fee  whether  thou  wilt  be  yet  any 
better  ;  Avhat  njanner  of  perfons  would  you  be?  If  you 
v.'cre  to  live  a  thou  land  years,  would  you  not  gladly 
live  as  ftrictly  as  ttie  prcc'feif  faints,  and  fpend  all  thof^ 
years  in  prayer  and  duty,  fo  you  might  but  cfcapc  the 
torment  which  you  fuffcred  ?  how  ferioufly  then  would 
you  ipeak  of  hell  I  and  pray  a^jainft  it  ?  And  hear,  and 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  153 

read,  and  watch,  and  obey  I  How  earneflly  would  you 
admonifli  the  carel^ls  to  take  heed,  and  look  a'Dout 
them  to  prevent  theiv  ruin  1  And  will  not  you  take 
God's  word  for  the  truth  of  this,  except  you  feel  it  ? 
Is  it  not  your  wifdom  to  do  as  much  now  to  prevent  it, 
as  you  would  do  to  remove  it  when  it  is  too  late  ?  Is  it 
not  mere  wifdom  to  fpend  this  life  in  labouring  for 
heaven,  while  ye  have  it,  than  to  lie  in  tonnerit,  wifii- 
iug  for  more-  time  in  vain  ? 

And  thus  I  have  faid  enougli,  if  not  to  dir  up  the 
lazy  linnerto  a  fcrious  working  out  his  fiilvation,  yet 
at  leafl  to  filence  him,  and  leave  him  inexcuiahle  at  the 
judgment  of  God.  If  thou  canft,  after  reading  all 
this,  goon  in  the  fame  negledl  of  God,  and  thy  foul, 
and  draw  out  the  reft  of  thy  life  in  tlic  fame  dull  and 
carelefs  courfe,  as  thou  haft  hitherto  done  ;  and  if  thou 
haft  fo  far  ftupiiied  thy  confcience,  that  it  will  quietly 
iuffer  thee  to  forget  all  this,  and  to  tritic  out  the  reft 
of  thy  time  in  the  bufinefs  of  the  world,  when  in  the 
mean  while  thy  falvation  is  in  danger,  and  the  judge 
is  at  the  door  ;  I  have  then  no  more  to  fay  to  thee  :  it 
is  as  good  to  fpeak  to  a  rock.  Only  as  we  do  by  our 
friends  when  they  are  dead ;  aud  our  words  and  a(rti- 
ons  can  do  them  no  good,  yet  to  teftify  our  affe*5lions 
we  weep  and  mourn  for  them  :  fo  will  I  alfo  do  for 
thefe  fouls.  It  makes  my  heart  even  tremble  to  think, 
how  they  will  ftand  trembling  before  the  Lord  !  And 
how  confounded  and  fpeechlefs  they  will  be,  when 
Chrift  ftiall  reafon  with  them  concei  jiing  their  hdgli- 
genca  and  ftoth  1  When  he  ftiall  fay,  as  the  Lord  doth 
in  Jer.  ii.  5.  9.  11.  15.  IFhal  iniqiiitj  uave  your  fathers 
(or  you)  found  iji  J»e,  that  ye  are  gone  far  from  vn^ 
and  hdve  walked  after  vanity  ?  Did  I  ever  wrong  youy 
or  do  you  any  harm,  or  ever  diicourage  you  Irom  fol- 
lowing my  fervice  ?  Was  my  way  fo  bad  that  you 
could  not  endure  it  ?  or  my  fervice  lb  bale  that 
you  could  not  ftoop  to  it?  Did  I  ftoop  to  tlii  fulfil- 
ing  of  the   law    for   you,  and  could    not   you    ftoop 


1 56  The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest, 

to  fulfil  the  cafy  conditions  of  my  gofpel  ?  Was 
the  world  or  Satan  a  better  friend  to  you  than  I  ?  Or 
had  they  done  for  you  more  than  I  had  dene  ?  Try 
now  whetlier  they  will  fave  you,  or  whether  they  will 
Tccompenfe  you  for  the  Icfs  oF  heaven  ;  or  whether  they 
will  be  as  good  to  you  as  I  would  have  been.  O  1  what 
will  the  wretched  finner  anfwer  to  any  of  this  1  But 
thougli  man  will  not  hear,  yet  we  mny  have  hope  in 
fpcaking  to  God — Lord,  fmite  thefc  rocks  till  they 
gufli  forth  waters  :  though  thefe  ears  are  deaf,  fay  to 
thera,  Ephphata,  be  opened  :  though  thefe  finners  be 
dead,  let  that  power  fpeak  which  fometime  faid,  La- 
zarus-, arise  I  We  know  they  will  be  awakened  at  the 
laft  refurredion  ;  O,  but  then  it  will  be  only  to  their 
forrow  1  O,  thou  that  didfl  weep  and  groan  over  dead 
Lazarus,  pity  thefe  fad  and  fenfelefs  fouls,  till  they  are 
able  to  v/eep  and  groan  for,  and  pity  themfelves.  As 
thou  haT:  bid  thy  fervants  fpeak,  lb  fpeak  nowthyfelf; 
they  will  hear  thy  voice  fpeaking  to  their  hearts^  that 
will  not  hear  mine  fpeaking  to  their  ears,  Long  haft 
thou  knocked  at  thefe  hearts  in  vain,  now  break  the 
doors,  and  enter  in. 

Yet  I  will  add  a  few  more  words  to  good  men  in  par- 
ticular, to  Ihew  them  why  they  above  all  men  fliould 
be  laborious  for  heaven  ;  and  that  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  reafon,  that  though  all  the  world  fit  ftill,  yet  they 
Ihould  abhor  that  lazinefs  and  negligence,  and  lay  out 
all  their  ftrength  on  the  work  of  God.  To  this  end, 
I  defire  them  alfo  to  anfwer  foberly  to  thefe  few  quef- 
tions. 

I.  ^i^i^jf.  What  manner  of  perfons  fiiould  thofe  be, 
^7ho  have  felt  the  fmart  of  their  negligence,  in  the  new 
birth,  in  their  feveral  wounds  and  trouble  of  confci- 
ence,  in  their  doubts  an«l  fears,  in  their  various  afHic- 
tions  :  they  that  have  groaned  and  cried  out  fo  oft,  un- 
der the  fciu'e  and  effedts  of  their  negligence,  and  arc 


The  Saints''  Everlasiinz  Rent,  157 


<b 


r:T:e  enou^'h  to  feel  it  again,  if  th"y  do  not  reform  it  ? 
Sure  one  would  think  they  Huuld  be  flothful  no  more* 

2.  ^fest.  What  manner  of  pevu»ns  fliould  thofe  be 
who  have  bound  thenifelves  to  God  by  fo  many  cove- 
nants as  we  have  done,  and  in  fpecial  have  covenanted 
To  oft  to  be  more  painful  and  faithful  in  his  fervice  ? 
At  every  facrament  ;  on  many  days  of  humiliatior.  and 
thankfgivin^  ;  in  moil  of  our  deep  diftreiTe?  and  dan- 
gerous iickneffes  :  we  are  flill  re:idy  to  bewail  our  ne- 
glects, and  to  engage  ourfelves,  if  God  will  but  try  us 
and  truft  us  once  again,  how  diligent  and  laborious  v;e 
■will  be,  and  how  we  will  improve  our  time,  and  re- 
prove offenders,  and  watch  over  ourfelves,  and  ply  our 
work  :  and  do  Iwm  more  fervice  in  a  day  than  we  did 
in  a  month  ?  The  Lord  pardon  our  perfidious  cove- 
nant-breaking ;  and  grant  that  our  engagements  may 
not  condemn  us. 

3.  ^lest.  What  manner  of  men  lliouid  they  be  In 
fiuiy,  who  have  received  fo  much  encouragement,  as 
we  have  done  ?  Who  have  tadedfuch  fweetnefs  in  di- 
ligent obedience,  as  doth  much  more  than  countervail 
all  the  pains  ;  who  have  fo  oft  had  experience  of  the 
wide  difference  between  lazy  and  laborious  duty,  by 
their  difierent  ilfues  ;  who  have  found  all  our  lazy  du- 
ties unfiuitful  ;  and  all  our  drivings  and  wrcRlings 
with  God  fuccefsful,  fo  that  we  were  never  Impor- 
tunate with  God  in  vain  ?  We  who  have  had  fo  ma- 
ny deliverances  upon  urgent  feeking  ;  and  have  re- 
tci^Td  almofl  all  our  folid  comforts  in  a  way  of  clofe 
and  confttnt  duty  :  how  Should  we  above  all  men  ply 
our  work  ? 

4.  %^jf.  What  manner  of  pcrfons  fliould  they  be 
in  holinefs,  who  have  fo  much  of  the  great  wcjk  yet 
undone  ?  So  many  lins  in  fo  great  (Irength  ;  graces 
weak,    fanaification   ivnperfeft,  corruption  liill  work- 

O 


158  The  Sa:7it&^  Everlasting  Rest, 

ing  and  taking  advantage  of  all  our  omilfion  ?  When 
we  are  as  a  boat-man  on  Lhe  water  ;  let  him  row  ne- 
ver fo  hard  a  month  together,  yet  if  he  do  but  flack 
his  hand,  and  think  to  eafe  himiclf,  his  boat  goes 
fafier  dov/n  the  ftream  than  before  It  went  up :  lo  do 
our  fouls,  v/hen  we  think  to  eafe  ourielves  by  abating 
our  pains  in  duty.  Our  tine  is  fiiort  ;  our  enemies 
inighty  :  our  hinderances  many:  God  feems  yet  at  a 
diftance  from  many  of  us  ;  our  thoughts  of  him  are 
dull  and  unbelieving  :  cur  acquaintance  and  commu- 
rion  with  Chrifl,  is  fmall,  and  our  defires  to  be  with 
him  are  as  fmall,  and  fiiould  men  in  our  cafe  flHnd 
fiill  ? 

5.  94iest,  Laflly,  what  manner  of  perfons  iliould 
tiiey  be,  on  whom  the  glory  of  the  great  God  doth 
fo  much  depend  ?  Mem  will  judge  of  the  father  by  the 
childi^n,  and  ofthemafter  by  the  fervants.  We  bear 
his  image,  and  therefore  men  will  meafure  him  by 
his  reprcfentation.  He  is  no  where  in  the  world  ^o 
lively  reprefented,  as  in  his  faints  :'  and  fhall  they  fet 
him  forth  as  a  pattern  of  idlenefs  ?  All  the  world  is 
not  capable  of  honoring  or  difhonoring  Gcdfomuch 
as  we  :  and  the  leaPt  of  his  honor  is  of  more  woith 
than  all  our  lives.  Seeing  then  that  all  thefe  things 
'lie  fo,  1  charge  thee  that  art  a  chrifllan,  in  my  maRer'5 
liame,  to  confider,  and  refolve  the  ouei'lion.  What 
manner  of  persons  oughi  we  to  be  in  all  holy  ccnversa^ 
t!cn  and  godliness  ?  And  let  thy  life  aufwer  the  qucf- 
tion  as  well  as  thy  tongue. 

I  have  been  larger  upon  this  ufc,  partly  becaufe  of 
the  general  negledl  of  heaven,  that  all  forts  are  guilty 
of;  partly  becaufe  men's  falvaticn  depends  upon  their 
prefent  ftriving  and  feeking  ;  partly  becaufe  the  doc- 
xnne  of  free  grace  mifunderftood,  is  lately  fo  abufed, 
to  the  cheridiing  of  floth  and  fecurity  :  partly  becaufe 
many  eminent  men  of  late  do  judge,  that  to  >York  or 
labour   for  lifc  and  falvaticn  is  mercenary,  legal  and 


The  Salnt6-  Everhu-tlng'  Rest.  laO 

chmgcrous  ;  wh'ch  ci()(!\rlne  (as  T  irave  faid  b'.fcv: ) 
v/eve  it  by  the  owners  reduced  into  pn:!5tlce,  v;c!:id 
undoubtedly  dair.n  them  ;  bccauic  thfy  thai:  fctek  not, 
fliall  not  find  ;  and  they  that  llrive  not  to  enter,  flr.^ll 
be  (hut  out;  and  they  that  labour  not,  fhall  not  be 
crowntd  :  and  partly  bccaule  it  is  r;rcwn  the  cuOcm, 
inftcad  of  ib.iving  for  the  kingdom,  and  contendinrc 
for  the  faith,  to  ftrive  with  each  other  about  uncer- 
tain controvciGcs,  and  to  contend  about  the  circum- 
fldntials  of  filth  ;  ^vher^i^  the  kijigdom  of  God 
doth  no  Hjcre  con  Tift  than  in  meats  or  drinks,  or  ge- 
Ke;:logies.  Sirs,  (hall  we  who  are  brethren  fall  out  by 
the  -WAV  home,  and  iptnd  fo  much  of  our  time  about 
the  fniidler  matters  which  thoui'unds  have  been  favcd 
without,  but  never  any  one  (aved  by  them,  while 
Chrift  and  our  eternal  red  are  slmoil  forgotten  ?  The 
Lord  pardon  ajid  heal  the  folly  of  Jiis  people  1 


CHAP.     Vll, 

The'^'^hird  Use,  Persuading  all  Men  to  try 
their  Tills  to  this  Rest ;  and  directing  them 
hovj  to  try\  that  they  r.iai;  knovj, 

NOW  proceed  to  th?  third  ule  ;   and  becaufe  it  is 
(;f  ver^- great  irr.-ocvtaiice,  I  entreat  thee  1.0  weigh 
it  the  more  feriouily. 

Is  there  fuch  a  glorious  reft  fo  near  at  hand  ?  And 
n-iail  none  enjoy  it  but  tlie  prople  cf  God  ?  What 
nieaT|  the  nirft  of  the  world  then,  to  live  ft>  contented- 
ly without  the  aiTurance  of  their  iiiterei?  in  this  reft? 
And  to  ncrl'^'tSt  tho  trying  of  tlcir  title  to  it,  when 
the  Lord  hath  ib  n.lly  opened  the  bleiTedncfs  cf  that 
kingdom  ^hich  none  but  cb<  dient  believers  fliall 
;:     '  ':      ;nJfo  fuliy  exprcCed  thjfe  ton::rnts  vhich  ull 


leo  The  3ahm^  Ever  last  mg  Re^U 

the  rcfl  of  the  world  mun:  eternally  fuSer  ?  A  man 
would  think  now,  that  they  who  believe  this  (hould 
never  he  at  any  quiet  till  they  Tvere  heirs  of  the  king- 
dom. Moft  men  fay  they  believe  this  woitl  of  God 
to  be  true  :  how  then  can  they  fit  ftill  in  fuch  an  utter 
uncertsinty,  v/hether  ever  they  fiiail  live  in  reft  or  not  ? 
Lord,  wh\t  a  woi^.derful  madnefs  \%  this,  that  men 
v'ho  know  they  muft  prefently  enteriipon  unchangea- 
ble joy  or  pain,  fiiould  yet  live  as  uncertain  what 
fh^ll  be  their  doom,  as  if  they  had  never  heard  of 
any  fuch  ftate  :  yea,  and  live  as  quietly,  ?.nd  as  merri- 
ly in  this  uncertainty,  as  if  nothing  ailed  them,  and 
■jherc  were  no  danger  ! 

Are  thefe  men  alive  or  d:'ad  ?  Arc  they  waking  of 
afleep?What  do  they  think  on  ?  Where  are  their 
hearts?  If  they  have  but  a  weighty  fuit  at  law,  how 
c^r^ful  are  they  to  know  whether  it  will  go  for  them, 
or  again  ft  them  ?  If  they  were  to  be  tried  for  their 
lives,  hov/  careful  would  they  be  to  know  whether 
they  ftiould  be  faved  or  condemned,  efpecially  if  thc'a* 
care  might  furely  fave  them  ?  If  they  be  dangeroufly 
fick  ;  they  will  enquire  of  the  phyfician  ;  what  think 
you  fir,  fliall  I  cfcape  or  no  ?  But  for  the  bufinefs  of 
their  falvation,  they  are  content  to  be  uncertain.  If 
you  aik  moft  men  a  reafon  of  their  hopes  to  be  faved, 
they  will  fay  it  isbecaule  God  is  merciful,  and  Chrift 
died  for  finncrs,  and  the  lil:e  genaral  reafons,  which 
any  man  in  the  world  may  give  as  well  as  they  ;  but 
put  tliera  to  prove  th.^ir  intercft  in  Chrift,  and  the  fav- 
ing  mercy  of  Qod,  ar.d  they  can  fay  nothing  at  all  ; 
at  leaft  nothing  out  of  their  he'^rts  and  experience. 

If  God  fliould  aik  them  for  their  fouls,  as  he  did 
Cain  for  his  broth:^r  Abel,  they  could  return  but  fucli 
in  anfwer  as  h.e  did.  If  God  or  man  fhould  fay  to 
iLciTi,  what  cafe  is  tliy  foul  in,  man  ?  Is  it  regeoe- 
r;^.ecl,  and  pardoned  or  no  ?  Is  it  in  a  ftate  of  life,  or 
■.z  of  death  ?   He  would  be  ready  to  fay,^  I  know 


a 


The  Sa'mW  Everlast'mz  Rest.         161 


jn  :t,  am  I  my  ibul's  keeper.  I  hope  veil,  T  triift 
God  with  my  foul,  I  (hull  fpeed  as  well  :is  other  m.Mi 
do,  I  thank  God  I  never  made  any  doubt  of  my  h\- 
vation.  Thou  \r,\{\  the  more  caufe  to  doubt  a  great 
deal,  bccaufe  thou  never  didft  doubt;  and  yet  more 
btcTiufe  thou  haft  been  fo  carelefs  in  thy  confidence. 
AVhatdothefe  cxprefnonsdifcovcr but  avilful  negle6. 
of  thy  own  falvation  ?  As  a  (lilp  mrtHer  that  (liould 
let  his  vcffel  alone,  r;nd  lay,  1  will  venture  it  arnonp: 
the  rocks,  and  the  waves,  and  winds  ;  I  will  truft  God 
with  it;  it  will  fpeed  asvvell  as  other  vclTels  do.  In- 
deed as  well  as  other  men's  that  arc  as  carelefs  and  idle, 
but  not  fo  well  as  other  n.en'i  that  are  diligent  and 
watchful.  V/hat  horrible  f'.bufe  of  God  is  this,  for 
mrn  to  pretend  they  truft  God,  to  cloak  their  own 
Wilful  negligence  I  If  thou  didft  truly  truft  God,  thou 
wouldft  alfo  be  ruled  by  him,  and  truft  him  in  that 
way  which  he  hath  appointed  thee.  He  requires  thee 
to_,r'/fe  all  diligence  to  make  thj  calling  and  election  siirc^ 
and  fo  to  truft  him,  2  Peter  i.  10.  He  hath  marked 
th?e  out  a  v/ay  by  vrhlch  thou  mayeft  come  to  be  fure  ; 
and  charQ,ed  thee  to  fearch  and  try  thyfelf,  till  thou 
certainly  knov/.  Were  he  not  a  foolli'h  tr'avelhr,  thnt 
would  ^o  on  when  he  doth  not  know  whether  it  be 
right  or  wrong  ;  and  fay,  I  hope  I  am  ripht ;  I  will 
go  on  rind  truft  God  ?  Art  not  thou  guilty  of  this 
foHy  in  thy  travels  to  eternity  ?  Not  confidering  that 
a  liitle  fcrious  enquiry  whf:.her  the  way  be  right, 
might  fave  thee  a  ^reat  deal  of  labour  w hich  thou  bt- 
j'iov.eft  in  vain,  and  muft  undo  again,  or  elfe  thou 
wilt  mifs  of  falvation,  and  undo  thyfelf.  Did  I  not 
]:no\v  what  a  de.iperate,  blind,  carnal  heart  is,  I 
fiiGuld  wonder  hcv/  thou  doft  to  keep  off  continual 
terrors  from  ti-.y  heart  :  and  cfpcciaily  in  tiicfe  cafes 
folio v/iijg  : 

1.   T  wonder  hv-w  thou  canft  citi.er  tli'.ni:  or   fijcak 
of  the    uicuafol    God   v/.thout   excvedln.'f  terror  and 
.02  "        ■ 


162  The  Scunta^  Everlasting  Rest » 

afloniihment,  as  loiiri^  as  thou  art  uncertain  whether  he 
be  thy  father  or  thy  enen^y,  and  knoweft  not  but  aTl 
his  attributes  may  be  employed  agalnfl  thee.  If  his 
sair.ts  must  rejoice  before  Jiim  nvtih  trembii-r.g^  and 
serve  him  vjtth  fear  :  If  they  that  arc  fure  to  receive 
the  immoveable  kingdom,  muft  yet  ferve  Gcd  tvith 
reverence  and  godly  fear^  bccauie  he  is  a  consuming 
fre  :  how  terrible  iliould  the  reinembrance  of  him  be 
to  them  that  know  not  but  this  lire  may  for  ever  con- 
fume  thcin  ? 


2.  How  doft  thou  think  without  trembling,  upon 
Jefus  Chrift  ?  -when  thou  knoweft  rot  whether 
his  blood  hath  purged  thy  foul,  pr  n6t  ?  And  whether 
be  will  condemn  thee,  or    acquit   thee  in  judgmei\t  : 

■  nor  whether  he  be  the  corner-ftone  and  foundation  of 
thy  happinefs,  or  a  (lone  of  ftumbling  to  break  thee, 
and  grind  thee  to  powder  I 

3.  How  canfl:  thou  open  the  bible  and  read  a  chap. 
ter,  or  hear  a  chapter  read  but  it  fiiould  terrify  thee  ? 
Methinks  every  leaf  fliould  be  to  thee  as  Bellhazzar's 
Avritlng  on  the  wall,  except  only  that  which  draws 
•thee,  to  try  and  reform:  If  thou  read  the  prom.ifes, 
thou  knoweft  not  Avhether  ever  they  fliall  be  fulfilled 
to  thee,  becaufe  thou  art  uncertain  of  thy  perform- 
ance of  the  condition.  If  thou  read  the  threatenings, 
for  any  thing  thou  kno\;'eft,  thou  doft  read  thy  ov/n^ 
fentence.  I  do  not  wonder  if  th«u  art  an  enemy  to 
plain  preaching,  and  if  thou  fay  of  it,  and  of  the 
jninifter  and  fcripture  itfelf,  as  Ahab  of  the  prophet, 
/  hate  him,  for  he  doth  not  prophecj  good  concernijig 
'/Bc,  but  evil, 

4.  What  conjf(»rt  canft  thou  find  in  any  thing 
v.'hicb  thou  polfelTeil  ?  Methinks,  friends,  and  ho-, 
nours,  and  houfes,  and  lands,  fliould  do  thee  little 
good,  till  thou  know  thou  haft  the  love  of  God 
v/nbalj  axid  ftialt  have  r?fl  with  Jiim  when  thou  leav- 


The  Salr.ts^  Everlasting  Rest.  163 

?it  thefc.  OflftT  to  a  priloner,  before  he  knows  liis 
IVntencc,  elt'aer  r.-.afic,  or  clothes,  or  lands  or  prefei- 
meiit,  and  what  cares  he  for  any  of  thefe,  tiil  h.; 
know  how  he  (ball  efcape  for  his  life  ?  Tiien  he  will 
look  afcer  thefe  comforts  of  life,  and  not  before  ;  for 
lie  knows  if  he  muft  die  the  next  day^  it  will  he  fmall 
conifort  to  die  rich  or  honourable.  Even  when  thou 
liefl  down  to  take  thy  reft,  methinks  the  uncertainty 
of  thy  falvation  laoiild  keep  thee  waking,  or  amaze 
thee  in  thy  dreams,  and  trouble  thy  lleep  ;  and  thoa 
Ihov.ldfl  fay,  as  Job  in  a  linalltr  diftrefs  than  thine, 
Job  vii,  13,  14.  ]v}}en  I  soj^mj  bed  shall  comfort  me, 
rv;  couch  shall  ease  my  complaint ^^hen  thou  scartst  me 
through  dreams^  ar.d  terrijitst  me  through  visions, 

5.  \Vhat  n/ift  doft  thou  make  to  tliink  of  thy  dy- 
in^  hour  ?  Thou  knowefl  it  is  hard  by,  and  there  is 
no  avoiding  it,  nor  any  medicine  found  out  that  can 
prevent  it  ;  thou  knowefl  it  is  the  hing  of  terror,  and 
the  inlet  to  thine  unchangeable  ftate.  It  thou  ftiouldft 
die  this  day  (and  tt^ho  knovjs  what  a  day  may    bring 

forth  ? )  thou  doft  not  know  whether  thou  flialt  go 
ftrait  to  heaven  or  hell :  And  canft  thou  bt  merry  tlil 
thou  ar:  got  oqt  of  this   dangerous  ftate  ? 

6.  What  iliift  doft  thou  make  to  preferve  thy  heart 
from  horror,  when  thou  remembereft  the  great  judg- 
ment day,  and  the  everlaftiag  fiames  ?  doft  thou  not 
tremble  as  Felix  when  thou  heareft  of  it  ?  and  as  the 
elders  of  the  town  trembled  when  Samuel  came  to  it, 
faying,  comeft  thou  peac-ably  ?  So  methinks  thou 
iliouldft  do  when  the  minifter  com.es  into  the  pulpit : 
and  thy  heart,  whenever  thoy  meditateft  of  that  day, 
fhould  meditate  tarror,  and  thou  (hculdft  even  be  a 
terror  to  thyfelf  and  all  thy  friends.  If  the  keepers 
trembled,  and  became  as  dead  men,  when  they  did 
but  fee  the  angels,  Matt,  xxvili.  3,  4.  how  canft  thou 
think  of  living  in  hell  with  devils,  till  thou   haft  got 

oiue  found  affurance  th?.:  thou  ihjit  cfcaoe  it  i  Or  if 


iGj  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

th  in  fvld-'TTi  tl  ir!;.  of  th.Te  thlnjs,  tiie  r/onder  is  ns 
grc?.t,  wliat  Viii'zc  tiiou  ij.rikcil  to  keep  tht-ff  thcnghts 
fn>ni  ti'.y  h'.art  ?  Thy  bed  is  ve-y  iofc,  or  thy  lieart  Is 
very  haid,  if  thoa  craifi:  ik.^p  foundly  in  this  uncertain 
cnlc. 


1  IiaveC'ic 
to    iViCW  thsc 


•ed  tliee  the  d. 
the  rcnjedy. 


let  me  next  proceed 


Tf  this  :--?neial  uncertainty  of  the  world  about  their 
f:\lvation  were  remcdilcls,  then  iv.v.d  it  be  borr.e  as 
other  unavoidable  iniferies  :  but,  -alas,  the  coinr.ion 
caufe  is  v.'ilfulr.efs  aiid  ncf'Tigcnce  :  nv.'n  will  not  be 
perfuadc'd  to  ufe  the  lerricdy,  though  ii  be  at  hand, 
prcfcribed  to  them  by  God  hirnrc-lf,  and  all  ncceifary 
helps  thereunto  provided  for  them.  The  great  >means 
to  conquer  thlf;  uncertainty,  is  felf-examination,  or  the 
lerious  and  diligent  trying  of  a  man's  heart  and  ftatc  by 
the  rule  of  Icripture.  But,  alas,  either  men  underfrand 
not  the  nature  and  ufe  of  this  duty,  or  elfc  they  w-ill 
not  be  at  the  pains  to  try.  Go  throiig'h  a  congregati- 
on of  a  thcuisnd  men,  and  how  few  of  them  will  you 
meet  with,  that  ever  beflowed  one  hour  in  all  their 
lives  in  a  clofe  examination  of  their  title  to  heaven  ? 
A{[l  thy  own  coniciencc,  reader,  when  was  the  time, 
and  wi'.erc  v.as  the  place,  that  ever  thou  fclcmnly  took- 
edft  thy  heart  to  tailc,  as  in  the  light  of  God,  and 
examinedft  it  by  fcnpture,  whether  it  be  born  again 
or  not?  Whether  it  be  holy  or  not?  W^hether  it  he 
fet  mcf^  on  God  or  on  creatuies,  on  heav^in  or  earth  ; 
and  didil  foIlo'A'  on  thiii  cxaminatiojM  till  thou  hadll 
diiVoveied  thy  condition,  and  fo  paiTcd  fcntence  on 
thyk'if  accordinc,ly  ? 

Bat  becaufe  thi?  is  a  work  of  fo  high  ccncernment, 
and  fo  ccmmorily  ni-^l-cleu,   i  wiii  tiicrcforc, 

I.  Shew  you,  that  it  is  polTiblc  by  trying;  to  come 
to  a  certaiiity. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rcrrt.  1C5 

2.  Siijw  you  the  hip.icr?.nces  tint  k^ep    mjn  from 
tryinj,  and  from  afTurancs. 

3.  I  Will  l.iy  down  fc:n:  motives   to  pcrfaide   ycu 
to  it. 

4.  I  will  g'ivf  you  fomc  cllreflioas  how  to   perform 


5.  And  l.iflly,  I  w"ll  I.iy  you  dawn  fo.iie  mir':s  odt- 
wf  fciipturs,  by  v.hich  you  m.iy  try,  and  come  to  an 
infallible  certainty,  whstht^r  you  are  the  pjople  of  God, 
or  no. 

A'ld  I.  I  Hull  riiew  you  that  a  certaiacy  of  f.ilvaticii 
»i.iy  b?  attained,  and  ou^'ht  to  be  laboured  for.  Which 
I  mainlain  by  thefe  arguments  : 

1.  ScriptLire  tells  us  we  may  know,  and  that  the 
faints  b-jfore  us  h:ive  known  their  judificaticn,  and 
falvation,  2  Cor.  v.  !.  Rom.  viii.  30.  Job.  xiii.  35. 
I  Jok.v.  I'.),  and  iv.  13.  any  iii.  14.  24.  and  ii.  3,  5. 
Ilo.n.  viii.  14.  19.  Eph.  iii.  12.  I  refer  you  to  t!ie 
places  for  brevity. 

2.  If  we  may  be  certain  of  the  premifcs,  then  may 
we  alfo  be  certain  of  the  concluQon.  Bat  licre  we  may- 
be certain  of  both  the  premifcs.  For,  1.  That  ivhj- 
soever  bclisveih  in  Christ  shall  not  p'irish,  out  have 
everlasting  lifj^  is  the  voice  of  the  gofpel  ;  and  there- 
fore that  we  mdy  be  fure  of:  that  we  are  fuch  belicv- 
e»s,  m.'.y  be  known    by  confcicnce  and  internal  fcnfc. 

3.  The  fcripture  would  never  make  fuch  a  \v:de 
difference  between  the  children  of  God,  and  the  cl::!- 
dren  of  the  devil,  and  fct  forth  the  happinefs  of  the 
one,  and  the  mifery  of  the  other,  and  make  this  dif- 
ijrcucs    to  run  through  all  the  veins  cf  iti    dodtriui'j 


16  -  SahiU^  Everlasting  Rest. 

if  a   man  cannot   know    which    of    thefv  two     Hates 
he  is  iv;. 

4.  Much  lefs  would  the  Holy  GhoR  bid  us  ^ive  all 
di'ij^ence  to  r.iakf  our  calling  and  election  sure^  if  it 
couU  not   be  done,  2.  Pet.  i.    10. 

5.  And  to  wliat  pnrpofe  fliou].!  we  be  fo  eariH-niy 
urged  tn  ex?.niine,  and  prove,  and  try  onrftlves,  whe- 
ther we  b-  in  the  Lith,  and  whether  Chriil  be  in  us, 
or  wc  he  reprobates  ?  1  Cc>r.  xi.  23.  and  2  Cor.  xili. 
5.  W!iy  fliould  \7c   fearch  lor  that  which  cannot  be 


G.  ilo'.v  c;in  wc  o'oey  thofe  precepts  which  require 
U£  to  rejt)ice  always  ?  1  Tlisf.  v.  15.  to  crdl  God  oui- 
father,  Luke  xi.  13. to  live  in  his  prailes,  Pral.  xlix.  1, 
2,  3,  4,  5.  r.nu  to  long  for  ChrifPs  coming.  Rev.  xxii. 
17,  "20.  2  Thci'.  i.  10.  and  to  comfort  ourlclves  with 
the  mention  of  it,  I  Thef.  iv.  18.  which  are  rdl  the 
confcqucnts  of  afiurance  ?  Wh.)  cm  do  any  of  thclc 
heartily,  that  ii  not  in  fome  meal'ure  lure  that  he  is  a 
child  of  Gi  d  i" 

The  2d  thiujT^  I  promifrd,  is,  to  lliew  you  wliat  arc 
the  hinderance;  which  k<iep  men  from  examination  and 
afTarance.  I 'hall,  I.  Siicw  what  hind'.-rs  them  from 
trying;  and  3.  W  hat  hinderetli  chem  from  knowing, 
when  they  du  tr^,  chat  fo  when  you  fee  the  impcdi- 
nitnts,  ycu  )n.''.y  avoid  them. 

And,  1 .  \V'  cnr.iiot  doubt  but  Satan  will  do  his  part 
to  hir.c'er  us  fr(.r.i  i'uch  a  ijcc^iuiry  i;uty  as  tills  :  if  all 
the  power  he  hath  can  do,  it<  or  all  the  means  and  in». 
A.iiincnts  which  he  cnn  raife  up.  He  is  loth  the  god- 
ly lh'j;i!d  ^.ave  that  ad'urance,  and  hdvantage  againit 
cofrupti'in,  which  faithful  feU'-exarninatioii  would 
proci:;-^  them  :  and  ft>r  liic  ung;odly  lie  knowi,  if  tin.- 
jhoul.i  oi-.v.e   f^.Il  clofe  to  this  thcv  would  fi-iJ   o\M  iv*-. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Fcst.  137 

d'^ceitb,  and  their  own  dan^-er.  If  t^ey  did  bu"  faith- 
fully perform  this  duty,  he  were  hkcly  to  loft:  moit 
of  his  fubjecSts.  If  the  fn are  be  not  hid,  the  bird  will 
efcape  it  :  Satan  knows  how  to  angle  for  fouls,  bet- 
ter than  to  riicw  them  the  hook  or  line,  aiid  to  friryht 
th^m    a%vay    u  ith    a  noife,  or  with  his  cwn    ap;.c.:i-- 


'i'iicr'efore  he  I;ihoiir>  to  keep  then  from  a  f^arcn- 
ing  minirtry  ;  or  to  keep  the  minifter  from  helping 
them  to  fearch  :  or  to  take  off  the  edge  of  the  word, 
that  it  may  not  pierce,  or  to  turn  away  their  thoughts, 
or  pofTcifs  th^m  with  prejudice  :  Satan  is  acquainted 
with  all  the  preparations  of  the  minifter  ;  he  know< 
when  he  hath  prorided  a  fearching  fermon,  fitted  to 
tlie  ftate  and  necefTity  of  an  hearer  ;  and  therefore  he 
will  keep  him  away  xhat  day,  if  it  be  pofTibie,  or  elfe 
catl  him  afleep,  or  (leal  away  the  word  by  the  cares 
and  talk  of  the  world,  or  feme  way  prevent  its  ope- 
ration. 

This  is  the  fir  ft  hinder?.nce, 

2.  Wicked  men  alfo  are  grsat  impediments  co  ....<.• 
finners  when  they  ihould  examine  and  difcover  their 
eftates. 

1.  Their  examples  hinder  much.  When  an  ignorant 
fmner  feeth  all  his  friends  and  neighbours  do  as  he 
doth,  yea,  the  rich  and  learned  as  well  as  others,  this 
is  an  exceeding  great  temptation  to  proceed  in  his 
lecurity. 

2.  The  merry  company  and  dlfcourfe  of  tiiefe 
men  do  take  away  the  thoughts  of  his  fpiritual  ftate, 
and  make  the  underftanding  drunk  :  fo  tluit  if  the 
Spirit  had  before  put  into  them  any  jealeufy  of  them- 
■felvcs,  or  anypurpofe  to  try  tliemfelves,  thefe  do  foon 
quench  all. 


KO  The  Saijita^  Evrr lasting  I^ est* 

3.  Alfo  their  ccr.tinual  difconvf?  of  matters  cf  ihc 
uorld,  dcth  damp  ail  thefc  pur;2cff  •.. 

4.  Tlitlr  railings  alfo,  ar.d  fcorning  nt  [^cdly  per- 
fo;is,  is  a  very  great  iiupedlnicnt  to  nniltitudes  of 
fouls,  ard  poflcfitlh  their,  with  fuch  a  prejudice  ar.d 
diflike  cf  the  way  to  heaven,  that  they  fettle  in  the 
way  they  are  in. 

.').  Thtir  crnftant  perfiiaficn,  alli'.remcnts,  ard 
threats,  hinder  much.  God  doth  fcarce  ever  open  the 
eyes  of  a  poor  finncr,  to  fee  that  his  way  is  wrong, 
hut  prefeiitly  there  is  a  multitude  cf  Satnn's  apolUes 
ready  to  flatter  him,  and  daub,  and  deceive,  and  fettle 
him  again  in  the  quiet  pciTeffion  of  his  form.er  maf- 
ttr.  What,  fay  they,  do  you  make  a  doubt  of  ycur 
falvation  who  have  lived  fo  well,  and  done  nobody 
harm?  God  is  merciful  :  and  if  fuch  as  you  fliall  not 
be  faved,  God  help  a  great  many  ;  what  do  ycu 
think  is  become  of  all  your  fore-fathers  ?  And  what 
will  become  of  all  your  friends  and  neighbours  that 
live  as  ycu  do  ?  Will  they  all  be  dam.ned  ?  Shall  pone 
be  faved  think  you,  but  a  few  (Iricl  ones  ?  Come, 
come,  if  ye  hearken  to  thele  books  or  preachers,  they 
v/ill  drive  you  to  defpair,  or  drive  you  out  of  your 
wits  :  thus  do  they  follow  the  foul  that  is  efcaping 
from  Satan,  withreQlcls  cries,  till  they  have  bruught 
him  back  :  Oh,  how  many  thoufands  have  fuch 
charms  kept  afleep  in  fecurity,  till  death  and  hell  have 
awakened  and  better  informed  them  !  The  Lord  calls 
to  the  finner  and  tells  him,  T/ie  gate  is  strait^  the 
way  isnarro'Wn^andftwJindit:  trj  and  examine  ivhc' 
thcr  thou  be  in  the  faith  or  no  :  givs  all  diligence  to 
make  sure  in  time, — And  the  v/orld  tries  out  clean 
the  contrary,  never  doubt,  nerev  trouble  yourfelvei 
with  thefe  thoughts  ;— -I  entreat  the  iinner  that  is  in 
this  ftrait  to  conlkier,  that  it  is  ChrifK  and  not  their 
fathers,  or  motbrrh  or  neighbour,  or  friends  that  mult 
judge  them  ;  and  if  Chriil:  condt mn  them,  thtfe  can- 


I 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest.  169 

«ot  fave  tbem  :  and  therefore  common  reafon  may 
tell  them,  that  it  is  not  from  the  words  of  ignorant 
men,  but  from  the  ^ord  of  God  that  they  muft  fetch 
their  hope*  cf  falvation. 

When  Ahab  ■\fould  enquire  among  the  multitudes 
of  flattering'  prophets,  it  was  his  death.  They  can 
flatter  men  into  the  Inare,  but  they  cannot  bring  then 
©ut.  OK,  take  the  counlel  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  Eph, 
V.  6,  7 ,  "  Let  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words  : 
for  becaufe  of  thefe  things  comcth  the  wrath  of  God 
upon  the  children  of  difobcdience  :  be  not  ye  there- 
fore partakers  with  them  :  but  fave  yourfelvcs  from 
this  untoward  generation. 

3.  But  the  greatcft  hinderances  are  in  men's  owm 
hearts. 

1.  Some  are  fo  ignorant  that  they  kno^y•  not  what 
felf-examination  is,  nor  what  a  minifter  means  when 
he  perfuadcth  them  to  try  themfelves  ;  or  they  know- 
not  that  there  is  any  neceffity  of  it  :  but  think  every 
man  is  bound  to  believe  that  God  is  his  father,  and 
that  his  fms  are  pardoned  whether  it  be  true  or  falfe  ; 
and  that  it  were  a  great  fault  to  make  any  queftion  of 
it  ;  or  they  do  not  think  tUat  afiurance  can  be  attain- 
ed :  or  that  there  is  any  fuch  great  diflference  betwixt 
one  man  and  another  :  but  that  we  arc  all  chriftians, 
and  therefore  need  not  trouble  ourfelves  any  further  : 
or  at  Itaft  they  kuow  not  wherein  the  difference  lies  ; 
nor  how  to  fet  upoa  this  fearching  of  their  hearts. 
They  have  as  grofs  conceits  of  that  regenerv.tion,  whlck 
they  \Via[\  fearch  for,  as  Nicodejnus  had  ;  thay  are  like 
thole  in  Ails  xlx.  2.  that  knew  not  'whether  tl^er^ 
nvere  a  Holy  Ghost  to  be  received  or  no, 

2.  Some  are  fo  poCTcffed  with  felf-love  and  pride, 
that  tbey  will  not   fo  Biuch  as  fulb^^t  any  daJiig«r  t# 

.  p  —      -  - 


1 70  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

thenifclves.  Like  a  proud  tradefman  ^vho  fcorns  the 
motion  when  his  friends  dclirc  him  to  caft  uj)  his 
borl.s,  becaufe  they  are  afraid  he  will  break.  As 
fome  fond  parents  that  have  an  over  weaning  conceit 
of  their  own  children,  and  therefore  will  not  believe 
or  hear  any  evil  of  them  :  fuch  a  fond  felf-love  doth 
hinder  men  from  fufpccling  and  trying  their  ftates. 

3.  Some  are  To  guilty  that  they  dare  not  try  :  they 
are  fo  fearful  that  they  IbouJd  find  their  ertatcs  un- 
found,  that  they  dare  not  fearch  into  them.  And  yet 
they  dare  venture  them  to  a  more  dreadful  trial. 

4.  Some  are  fo  in  love  with  their  fin,  and  fo  in  dif- 
like  with  the  way  of  God,  that  they  dare  not  fall  on 
the  trial  of  their  ways,  left  they  be  forced  from  the 
courfe  which  they  love. 

5.  Some  are  fo  refolvcd  already  never  to  change 
their  prefent  Hate,  that  they  negledl  examination  as  a 
ufelefs  thing:  before  they  will  turn  fo  precife  and 
feek  a  new  way,  when  they  have  lived  fo  long,  and 
gone  fo  far,  they  will  put  their  eternal  ftate  to  the 
venture,  come  of  it  what  will.  And  when  a  man  is 
fully  rjfolved  to  hold  to  his  way,  and  not  to  turn 
back,  be  it  right  or  wrong,  to  what  end  fliould  he 
enquire  whether  he  be  right  or  no  ? 

6.  Moft  men  are  {o  taken  up  v/ith  their  worldly  af- 
fairs, and  arc  fo  huiy  in  providing  for  the  flefli,  that 
they  cannot  fet  themfelvcs  to  the  trying  of  their  title 
to  heaven:  they  have  another  kind  of  happinefs  in 
their  eye,  which  will  not  fulFer  them  to  make  fure  of 
heaven. 

7.  But  the  moft  conjmon  impediment  is  that  falfc 
faith  and  hope  commonly  called  prefumption  ;  which 
bears  up  the  hearts  of  moft  of  the  world,  and  fo  keeps 
them  from  fufpeding  their  danger. 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  171 

Tluis  you  fee  v;liat  abundance  of  diiHculties  niuf\  be 
overcome,  before  a  man  clofely  fets  upon  the  examin- 
ing of  \i\\  heart. 

And  if  a  mr-.n  break  througli  all  tliefe  impediment.:,^ 
ard  le:  upon  li>e  duty,  yet,  cf  thufe  fciw  w'r.o  cnqu've 
after  means  of  afTurancc,  divers  are  deceived  and  mif- 
carry,  efptxialiy  through  thcfe  follovvring' caufes. 

1.  There  is  fuch  confcfion  and  darknefs  in  the  foul 
«#f  man,  efpecially  of  an  unregencnue  man,  that  he  can. 
fcarcelytell  what  he  doth,  or  what  is  in  him.  Asone 
can  hardly  find  any  thing  in  an  houfe  where  nothing- 
keeps  its  place,  but  all  is  caft  en  an  heap  together  j 
fo  is  it  in  the  heart  where  all  things  are,  in  diforder, 
efpecially  when  darknefs  is  added  to  this  diforder  :  fo 
that  the  heart  is  like  aiiobfcure  dungeon,  "where  there 
is  but  a  little  crevice  of  light,  and  a  man  muR  ratht-n 
grope  than  fee,  no  Avonder  if  men  mifrake  in  fearch- 
ing  fuch  an  heart,  and  fo  mifcarry  in  judging-  their 
eftr.tes. 

2.  BeQdes,  many  are  refolved  what  to  judge  before 
they  try  :  they  uls  the  duty  but  to  ftrengthcn  their 
prelent  conceits  of  themfelves,  and  not  to  find  out  the 
truth  of  their  condition  :  like  a- bribed  judge,  who 
examines  each  party  as  if  he  would  judge  uprightly, 
when  he  is  refolved  which  way  the  caufc  fhall  go  be- 
fore-hand.    JnO:  fo  do  men  examine  their  hearts. 

3.  Alfo  men  try  themfelves  by  falfe  marks  and 
rules  :  not  knowing  wherein  the  truth  gf  chrifhanity 
doth  confift  :  fome  looking  beyond,  and  fome  Ihor* 
of  the  fcripture-ftandard. 

Lafily,  Men  frequently  mifcarry  in  this  work,  by 
fetting  on  it  in  their  own  ftrength.  As  fom-  ejcpect 
the  Spirit  (houlJ  do  it  without  them,  fo  others  at- 
tempt it  themfelves  without  feeking  or  expcdin^-  the 


)T2  The  Saints^  Ereriastirig  JfesK 

help  of  the  Spirit  :  both  thcfe  will  certainly  mifcarry 
in  tKcir  alTurancc, 


CHAP.     VIII. 
Further  Causes   of  doubting   am&ng   Chrlstic^is. 

BKCAUSE  the  comfort  of  a  chrinian's  lif^  doth  fo 
inrch  ronfifl  in  his  affurance  of  Cod>  fpreial 
Jo\e,  and  bccaufe  th«  right  Avay  of  obtaining  it  is  fo 
much  controverted,  I  will  here  proceed  a  little  further 
in  opening  to  you  fomc  otlier  hindcranccs  vrhich  ketp 
us  chriftians  from  coiufortablc  certainty. 

1 .  0ns  great  caufe  of  doubtinsj  and  unecrtalnty ,  It, 
the  weakntfs  of  cur  grace,  A  little  pracc  is  next  to 
none.  Small  thiugs  arc  hardly  difcfrneJ.  Moft  con- 
tent themlclves  >i|itha  fmall  meifurc  of  grace,  and  do 
not  follow  on  to  fpiiitual  flren^th  and  manhood.  They 
believe  fo  weakly,  and  Ioyc  Grd  fo  little,  tl:at  they 
can  fcarcc  Cud  whether  they  hclipYo  and  love  at  all. 
Like  a  man  in  a  fwoon,  wliofepulfe  and  bieathinp;  is 
lb  weak,  thut  they  can  hardly  be  perceived  whether 
they  move  at  all,  and  confcquently  whether  the  nian 
btt  alive  or  dead. 

1'hc  chief  ic;;ietly  for  iiitii  wonld  be,  to  follow  on 
their  duty,  till  tl.eir  grtices  be  ir.crcafed  ;  ply  your 
:^ork  :  wait  upon  God  in  the  iif-i  of  his  prefcribed 
means,  and  he  will  undoubtedly  blcfs  you  with  in- 
creafe.  O  that  chrifliisni  would^bcUow  moft  of  tha* 
umc  in  getting  more  gra(  e,  wh'ch  they  bellow  in  anx- 
ious doubtin.qs  wlictLcr  they  have  any  or  none  ;  ond 
that  they  would  lay  out  ihofc  f-'rious  afr«.<flions  in 
p.ayln'r,  awd  feckin^;;  to  Ghrif\  for  more  grate,  which 
tUcy   btfiosv   i'l  fruiilefs  complaints  !    I  bcrcecH  th?e, 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  173 

take  this  advice  as  from  Gcd  !  and  then,  when  thcti 
believefl  ftrongly,  and  loveft  fcrventlj^,  thou  car.ft  not 
doubt  whether  thou  believe  and  love,  or  not  ;  no  more 
than  a  man  that  is  burning  hot  can  doubt  whether  he 
be  warm  :  or  a  man  that  Is  flrong  and  lufty  can  doubt 
whether  he  be  alivt-. 

2.  Many  a  foul  lieth  long  under  doubting,  through 
the  imperfedion  of  their  very  reafon,  and  exceeding 
weaknefs  of  their  natural  parts.  Grace  doth  ufually 
rather  employ  our  faculties  on  better  obje6\s,  than  add 
to  the  degree  of  tiieir  natural  flrength.  Many  honefl 
hearts  have  fuch  weak  heads,  that  they  know  not  how 
to  perform  the  work  of  felf-trial ;  they  are  not  able  to 
argue  the  cafe  ;  they  will  acknowledge  the  prcmifes, 
and  yet  deny  the  apparent  conclufion.  Or  if  they  be 
brought  to  acknowledge  the  conclufion,  yet  they  do 
but  flagger  in  their  conceflion,  and  hold  it  fo  weakly, 
that  every  affault  may  take  it  ft-om  them.  If  God  do 
not  fome  other  way  fupply  to  thefe  men  the  defedl  of 
their  reafon,  I  fee  not  how  they  Ihould  have  clear  and 
fettled  peace. 

3.  Another  common  caufe  of  doubting  anddlfcom- 
fort;  is,  the  fccret  nuiintaining  fome  known  fin. 

"When  a  man  liveth  in  fome  unwarrantable  prad\ice, 
and  God  hath  oft  touched  him  for  it,  and  yet  he  cuii- 
tinueth  it;  >t  is  no  wonder  if  this  perfon  Want  b*th 
affiirance  and  comfort.  One  would  think  that  a  foul 
that  IS  fo  tender  as  to  tremble,  fhould'  be  as  tender  of 
finning  :  and  yet  fad  experience  telleth  us  that  it  is 
frequently  utherwife  :  I  have  known  too  many  fuch, 
that  would  complain  and  yet  fin,  and  accufc  tliem- 
iclves,  and  yet  fiii  ftill,  yea  and  defpair,  and  yet  pro- 
ceed in  finning  :  and  all  arguments  and  means  could 
not  keep  them  from  the  Wilful  committing  of  that  fin 
again  r.nd  again,  which  yet  they  themiclves  did  think 


X74  The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Re^t. 

▼.'oiild  prove  their  dcRiiiftion.  Yea,  fome  will  be 
carried  away  with  thole  fins  that  feein  moft  contrary 
to  tlieir  dejecled  temper.  I  have  known  tbem  that 
Y/ould  fill  men's  ears  with  tlie  tonftant  lamentations  of 
their  mii'erable  ftate,  and  ^ccufations  againft  them- 
fclves,  as  if  they  had  been  the  moft  humble  people  in 
the  world  :  and  yet  be  as  paflionate  in  the  maintaining 
their  innccency  when  another  accufeth  them,  and  as 
intolerably  peevifli,  and  tender  of  their  reputation  in 
any  thing  they  arp  blamed  for,  as  if  they  were  the 
proudeft  perfons  on  earth. 

This  cheriihing  fin  doth  hinder  alTurance  thefe  four 
ways. 

1.  It  doth  abate  the  degree  of  our  graces,  and  f© 
makes  them  undifcernable. 

2.  It  obfcureth  that  which  it  deftroyed  not ;  for  it 
lieareth  fuch  fway,  that  grace  is  not  fecn  to  ftir,  nor 
fcarce  heard  fpeak  for  the  noife  of  this  corruption. 

3.  It  putteth  out,  or  darkeneth  the  eye  of  the  fool, 
an^  it  benumbeih  and  ftupifieth  it. 

4.  But  efpeclaliy  it  provoke tk  God  to  withdraw 
iimfelf,  his  comforts  and  the  aiJiflanra  of  the  Spirit^ 
without  which  we  may  fearch  long  enough  before  wc 
have  alTurance.  God  hatk  made  a  feparation  betwixt 
f:n  and  peace.  As  long  as  tbow  doft  cherifh  thy  pride, 
thy  love  of  the  v/orld,  the  defires  of  the  flefh,  or  any 
michriftian  praftlcc,  thou  expcfteft  afi'urance  and  com- 
fdrt  in  vaiji.  God  vi\\\  not  encourage  thie  by  his 
precious  gif:s  in  a  courfe  of  iinning.  This  worm 
will  be  gnawing  upon  thy  confcicnce  :  It  will  be  a 
<*evouring  canker  to  thy  confolations.  Thou  mayfl 
fteal  a  fpark  of  fallc  comfort  from  thy  worldly  prof- 
perity  or  delight:  or  thou  mayft  have  it  from  fame 
ialfe  ©pinoDs,  or  froHi   the  delufioas  of  Satan  j   but 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest.  175 

from  God  thou  wilt  have  no  coir.fort.  However  an 
Antinomian  may  tell  thee,  that  thy  comforts  have  no 
dependance  upon  thy  obedience,  nor  thy  difcom forts  up- 
on thy  difobedience  :  and  therefore  may  fpeak  peace 
to  thee  in  the  courfe  of  tliy  finning  ;  yet  thou  fliak 
find  by  experience  that  God  will  not.  If  any  rcan 
fet  up  his  idols  in  his  heart,  and  put  the  f^umbling- 
block  of  his  inic^uity  before  his  face,  and  cometh  to 
a  minifter,  or  to  Gcd,  to  enquire  for  affurance  and 
comfort,  God  will  anfwer  that  man  by  himfelf,  and 
inftead  of  comforting  him,  he  vill  fet  his  face  againlt 
him,  he  tvill  ansivtr  him  according  to  the  multitude 
rf  his  idols, 

5.  Anothercomir.cn  caufe  of  want  cf  affurance  and 
comfort,  is,  when  men  grow  lazy  in  the  fpiritual  part 
©f  duty.  As  Dr.  Sibbs  faith  truly,  "  it  is  the  lazy 
chriftian  commonly  that  lacketh  affurance."  The 
way  of  painful  duty,  is  the  way  of  fulleft  comfort. 
Chrift  carrieth  all  our  comforts  in  his  hand:  if  we  are 
out  of  that  way  where  Chrift  is  to  be  met,  we  are  out 
•f  the    way  where  comfort  is  to  be  had. 

Thefc  two  ways  doth  this  lazinefs  debar  us  of  our 
comforts. 

1.  By  flopping  the  fountain,  and  eanfing  Chrift  to 
withhold  this  blefling  from  us.  Parents  ufe  not  to 
fmile  upon  children  in  their  nc:gle(5ls  and  difobedience. 
So  far  as  the  Spirit  is  grieved,  he  will  fuipend  his  con- 
fclations.  Allurance  and  peace  are  Chrift'e  great  en- 
couragements to  faiiiifulnefs  and  obedience  :  and  there- 
fore (though  our  obedience  do  not  merit  them,  yet) 
they  ufually  rife  and  fall  with  our  diligence  in  duty. 
They  that  have  entertained  tlic  Antinomian  dotage  to 
cover  their  idlenefs  and  viciowfneis,  may  talk  their 
nonfenfe  agayill  this  at  pleafure,  but  the  laborious 
chriftian  knov/s  it  by  experience.  As  prayer  mufl 
kave  faith  and  fervency  to  procure  its  fuccefs,  befidcs 


ir6  The  Sa'int.s''  Evcrlaating  Rest, 

the  bloodHied  and  interccflion  of  Chrift,  To  nnvft  all 
other  p2rts  of  our  obedience.  He  that  will  fay  to  us 
in  that  triumphing  day,  "  Well  done,  ^ood  and  faith- 
ful fervant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord  ;"  v/ill 
nlfo  comfort  his  fervants  in  their  moft  affedionate  and 
fpiritual  duties,  5;nd  fyy,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faith- 
ful fervant,  take  tliis  foretafle  of  thy  cvcrlafting  joy." 
If  thou  grow  ftldom  and  cuPromary,  and  cold  in  duty, 
efpecially  in  thy  fecrct  prayers  to  God,  and  yet  findeft 
no  abatement  in  thy  joys,  I  cannot  but  fear  that  thy 
joys  are  either  carnal  or  diabolical. 

2.  The  aftion  of  the  foul  upon  fuch  excellent  obj^'cfls 
doth  naturally  bring  confolation  with  it.  The  very 
ad  of  loving  God  in  Ciirift  doth  bring  inexpveflible 
fvveetnefs  into  the  foul.  The  foul  that  is  befl  furniftied 
with  grace,  when  it  is  not  in  aftion,  is  like  a  lute 
well  {hinged  and  tuned,  which  while  it  lieth  Tail,  doth 
make  no  more  mufic  than  a  coijinion  piece  of  -wood  ; 
but  when  it  is  taken  up  and  handled  by  ?i  Ikilful  lutift, 
the  melody  is  d>-'lightful.  Some  degree  of  comfort  foU 
lows  every  good  aftion,  as  heat  accompanies  fire,  and 
as  beams  and  irjfiuence  iffue  from  the  fun  :  v/hich  is  fo 
true,  that  the  very  heathens  upon  the  difcharge  of  a 
good  confcitnce  have  found  comfort  and  peace  aufwei> 
able.  'JiKisis  prcsmium  ante pn^ni turn  :  a  reward  be- 
fore the  reward. 

As  a  man  therefore  that  is  ccld  (hould  not  Aand  ftill 
and  fay,  I  am  fo  cold  that  I  have  no  mind  to  labour, 
but  lr.bour  till  his  coldnefs  be  gone,  and  heat  excited  ; 
fo  he  that  wants  the  comfort  of  alTurance,  muft  not 
ftand  fiill,  and  fay,  I  am  fo  doubtful  and  uncomforta- 
ble that  I  have  no  mind  for  duty  ;  but  ply  his  duty, 
and  exertife  his  graces,  till  he  finds  his  doubts  and 
difcomforts  vanifn. 

And  thus  I  have  fiicwn  you  the  chief  caufes,  why  fo 
many  chrilUajis  enjoy  fo  little  affurance  and  confolation. 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  177 

CHAP.     IX. 

Ccntainitig    Directions  for    Examinatisn^    and 
some  marks  of  Trial. 

I  WILL  not  {land  here  to  b.y  down  tlic  dlrecflions 
necefTary  for  preparation  to  tliis  duty»  becaufe  you 
may  ga'.her  them  from  what  is  faid  concerning  the 
hjnderances  :  for  the  contraries  of  thofe  hinderaaces 
will  be  the  mod  neceffary  helps.  Only  before  you 
fet  upon  it,  I  advife  you  to  the  obferv^tioH  of  theic 
rules. 

1.  Com*  not  with  too  peremptory  conclufions  of 
yourftlves  before-hand*  Do  not  judge  too  confidently 
before  you  try. 

2.  Be  fure  to  be  fo  well  acquainted  with  thefcrip- 
ture,  as  to  know  what  is  the  tenor  of  the  coveniint  of 
grace,  and  v/hut  are  the  conditions  of  jul^ification  and 
glorification,  and  confequently  what  are  found  marks 
to  try  thyfelf  by. 

5.  Be  a  conftant  obferver  of  the  temper  and  motions 
•fthy  he^rt :  moft  of  the  difficulty  of  the  work  doth 
lie  in  true  and  clear  difccrning  of  it.  Be  watchful  ia 
obferving  the  adiings  both  of  grace  and  corruption, 
iind  the  circumftances  of  their  actings  :  as,  how  free- 
quent  ?  how  violent  ?  how  ftrong  or  weak  were  the 
outward  incitements  ?  how  great  or  fmall  the  impedi- 
ments ?  what  delight,  or  loathing,  or  fear,  or  relnc- 
tancy  did  go  with  thofe  ads  ? 

1 .  Empty  thy  mind  of  all  thy  other  caves  and 
thoughts,  that  they  do  not  diftracl  or  divide  tliy  mind  : 
this  work  will  be  enough  at  once  of  itfeU*,  wLthoiit 
joining  others  with  it. 


1  re  The  Saints''  EverJastin^  Rest, 


5.  Then  fall  down  before  God,  nnd  in  loenrty 
])rayer  defne  the  aflidance  of  lils  Spirit,  to  difcover 
to  ihee  tke  plain  truth  of  thy  condition,  and  to  eu- 
li^-jiten  thee  in  tlic  wlicl.-  progiifsof  the  work. 

I  Nvill  not  di;^rcis  to  v.arn  you  hereof  tie  falfe  rules 
and  marks  cf  tiial  of  wliich  you  muR  beware.  But 
I  will  briefly  adjoin  foiiie  marks  to  try  your  title  to 
this  reft. 

1.  Every  foul  that  hath  a  title  to  this  reft,  doth  pl?.ce 
liis  happinefs  in  it,  and  make  it  the  ultimate  end  of 
his  foul.  This  is  the  firR  mark  ;  v.hich  is  io  plain  a 
truth,  that  I  need  not  Rand  to  prove  it.  For  this  reft- 
lOnfReth  in  the  full  and  glorious  enjoyment  of  God  ; 
and  lie  that  niaketh  not  God  his  ultimate  end,  is  ia 
keart  a  pagan  and  rile  idolater, 

Let  me  a{k  tliee  then  ;  dofl  thou  truly  account  it 
thy  chief  happinefs  to  enjoy  the  Lord  in  glory,  or 
doft  thou  not  ?  Canft  thou  f..y  with  David,  The  Lerd 
is  my  poriion?  And'ivJiovi  Jiavc  I  in  JiesTen  but  thee  ?• 
And  whom  inearth  that  I  desire  in  comparison  of  thee? 
If  thou  be  an  heir  of  reR,  it  is  thus  with  thee.  Though 
the  fitffli  will  be  pleading  for  its  own  delights,  and 
tke  world  will  be  creeping  into  thine  affedlions,  yet  in 
thy  ordinary,  fetilcd,  prevailing  judgment  rnd  affec- 
tions, thou  preferreR  God  before  all  things  in  the 
wo  lid, 

1.  'J  l.ou  nuil. oR  him  the  end  of  thy  defircs  and  en- 
deavours :  the  vt  ly  ivafon  why  thou  hearcR  and  pray- 
eR,  »hy  thou  defireR  to  live  and  breathe  on  earth,  is 
this,  that  thou  maycR  feck  the  Lord.  Thou  feekeft 
firft  the  kingdom  of  God  and  its  rightcoufnefs  :  though 
thou  doR  not  feck  it  fo  zealoufly  as  thou  RiouldR  ; 
yet  hath  it  the  chief  cf  thy  defnes  and  endeavours  : 
and  nothing  clfe  is  dcfired  or  preferred  before  it. 


the  Sainta^  £^jer lasting  Rest.  1 79 

2.  Thou  wilt  think  no  labour  or  fuffl-rincj  too 
great  to  obtain  it.  And  thouf;h  ihc  ficlh  may  lome- 
times  Ihrlnk,  yet  urt  thou  relolvcd  and  content  to  go 
througli  all, 

5.  If  thou  be  an  heir  of  reft,  thy  v:\laatIon  of  It 
will  be  fo  high,  and  thy  affeclion  to  it  fo  great,  that 
thou  wouldft  not  exchange  thy  title  to  it,  and  hopes 
of  it,  for  any  worldly  good  whatfoever.  If  God 
would  fet  before  (bee  an  eternity  of  earthly  uleafurc 
on  one  hand,  and  the  reft  of  the  faints  on  the  other, 
and  bid  thee  take  tlry  choice  ;  thouv/ouldft  refufe  the 
world,  and  choci'e  this  reft. 

But  If  thou  be  yet  in  the  flefli,  then  it  is  chan  con- 
trary with  thee  :  then  doft  thou  In  thy  heart  prefer  thy 
worldly  happinefs  before  God;  and  though  thy  tongue 
may  fay,  that  God  is  the  chief  good,  yet  thy  heart 
doth  not  fo  efteem  him.      For, 

1.  The  world  is  the  chief  end  of  thy  defires  and 
endeavours ;  thy  very  heart  is  fet  upon  it  ;  thy  grcat- 
cft  care  aiid  labour  is  to  mai}itain  thy  eftate,  or  credit, 
or  fleftily  delights.  But  the  life  to  come  hath  little  of 
thy  care  or  labour.  Theu  didft  never  perceive  fo 
much  excellency  in  the  unfeen  glory  as  to  draw  thy 
heart  fo  after  it  ;  but  that  little  pains  which  thou  be- 
ftoweth  that  way,  it  is  but  in  the  fecond  place.  God 
hath  but  the  world's  leavings,  and  that  time  and  la- 
bour which  thou  c?n{\  fpare  from  the  world,  or  thofe 
few  cold  and  careiefs  thoughts  which  follow  thy  con- 
ftant,  earneft,  and  delightful  thoughts  of  earthly, 
things  :  neither  wouldft  thou  do  any  thing  at  all  for 
heaven,  if  thou  kneweftt  hov/  to  keep  the  world  :  but 
left  thou  ftiouldft  be  turned  into  hell,  when  thou  canft 
keep  the  world  no  longei-,  therefore  thou  wilt  do 
fomcthing. 


1 80  llie  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest. 

2.  Therefore  it  is  that  thou  thinkcft  the  wa)r  ©f 
God  too  flri(Sl,  and  wilt  not  be  pcrfuaded  to  the  con- 
ftant  labour  of  walking  according  to  the  gofpcl  rule  : 
and  when  it  comes  to  trixl,  that  thou  mull  foriakc 
Chrift  or  thy  worldly  happinels,  and  the  wind  which 
was  in  thy  back  doth  turn  in  thy  face,  then  thou  wilt 
renture  heaven  rather  than  earth,  and  (as  dcfperata  re- 
bels ufe  to  fay)  thou  wilt  rather  truft  God'3  mercy 
for  thy  foul,  than  man's  for  thy  body  ;  andfo  deny 
thy  obedience  to  God. 

3.  And  certainly  if  God  would  but  give  thee  leave 
tQ  live  in  health  and  wealth  for  ever  on  earth,  thou 
"wouldft  think  it  a  betttr  flats  than  rcfl  :  let  them  feck 
for  heaven  that  would,  thou  wouldft  think  this  thy 
chiefcft  happinefs.  This  is  thy  cafe  if  thou  be  yet  an 
unregenerate  perfon,  andhafl  no  title  to  the  faints'  reft. 

The  fecond  mark  which  I  fliall  give  thee,  to  try 
whether  thou  be  an  heir  of  reft,   is  this  : 

As  thou  takcft  God  for  thy  chief  good,  fo,  thou 
doll  htartily  accept  of  Chrift  for  thy  only  Saviour  and 
Lord  to  bring  thee  to  this  risft.  The  former  mark 
was  the  fum  of  the  firft  and  great  command  of  the  law 
of  nature,  [Thou  sha/t  love  the  Lord  thy  Gird.'\  This 
fecond  mark  is  tiie  fum  of  the  command  or  condition 
of  the  gofpel,  \_Bclieve  in  the  Lord  jfgsusy  and  thou 
shall  be  saved."]  And  the  performance  of  thefe  two  is 
the  whole  fum  or  effence  ofgodlinefs  and  chriftlanity. 
Obferve  therefore  the  parts  of  this  mark  which  is 
but  a  definition  of  faith. 

1.  Doft  thou  find  that  thou  art  naturally  a  loft,  con- 
demned man,  for  tliy  breach  of  the  iirft  covenant  ? 
And  believe  that  Jefus  Chrift  is  the  mediator  wiio  hath 
made  a  fufiicient  fatisfadlion  to  the  law  ?  And  hear- 
ing in  the  gofpel  that  he  is  offered  without  exception 
unto  all,  doft  thou  heartily  coiifent  .that  he  alone  iljall 


'  Everlastin  o-  Rest,  181 


•o 


We  tliy  faviour  ?  And  no  further  triift  to  thy  c^iutic-s 
and  works,  than  as  conditions  lequired  by  l.im,  and 
means  appointed  in  fubordination  to  him  ?  Not  lool:- 
ingat  them  as  in  the  leafl  mcafjrc  able  to  fatisly  the 
conrfe  of  the  htw,  or  as  a  legal  riL>hteoufnefs,  nor  ai.y 
part  of  it?  But  art  content  to  truTj:  thy  falvation  on 
the  redemp'tion  mr.dc  by  Ghrift  ? 

2.  Art  thou  alfo  content  to  take  li!m  for  thy  only 
i.ord  and  King,  to  govern  and  guide  thee  by  his  lav/g 
and  Spirit  ?  And  to  obey  him  even  ^vhcn  he  coin- 
raandeth  the  hardefl  duties,  and  thofe  which  moft 
crofs  the  delires  of  the  flelh  ?  Is  it  tiiy  foirow  when 
til  on  breakefl:  thy  rcfolution  litre  in  ?  And  thy  joy 
when  thou  keepefl  clofeft  in  obedience  to  him  ? 
Wouldfl  thou  not  change  thy  -Lord  and  Mafter  for 
all  the  world  ?  Thus  it  is  v/ith  every  true  chriRian. 
But  if  thou  be  an  unbeliever  it  is  far  otherwife.  Thou 
mayell:  call  Chrill  thy  Lord  and  thy  Saviour  :  but  thou 
never  founded  thyfclf  fo  loll  without  him  as  to  drive 
thee  totrurthim,  and  lay  thy  falvation  on  him  alone: 
or  at  leafl  thou  didfl  never  heartily  confent  that  he 
lliould  govern  thee  as  thy  Lord  ;  nor  refign  up  thy 
foul  and  life  to  be  ruled  by  him  ;  nor  take  his  word 
for  the  la%cf  thy  thougnus  and  adlions.  It  is  like 
thou  art  content  to  be  fived  from  hell  by  Ghrift  when, 
thou  dieft  :  but  in  the  mean-tim-c  he  fliall  command 
thee  no  further  tlian  \vill  (land  with  thy  credit,  or 
pleafure,  or  worldly  tfcdteand  ends.  And  if  h.e  would 
give  thee  Uave,  thou  hadft  far  ratlier  live  after  the 
world  and  flefn,  than  af-er  the  word  and  Spirit.  A  nd 
though  thou  may  eft  now  and  then  have  a  motion  or 
purpofe  to  the  contrary;  yet  this  that  I  have  menti- 
oned, is  the  ordinary  defire  and  choice  of  thine  heart : 
and  fo  thou  art  no  true  believer  in  Cl-niO: ;  for  though 
thou  confefs  him  in  words,  yet  in*  works  thou  doPc 
dcny  \\\m^  being  disobedient,  and  to  fverj  good  iva-k  a 

Q 


182  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rent* 


disapproTcr  aiid  a  rcprolate^  Tit.  1,    16.   This  is  the 
cafe  ol'Uiofe  that  fljall  be  fliut  out  of  the  inints'  red. 


CHAP,   X. 


Tke  Reason  of  the  Saints''  Afflictions  here, 

AFurtb.cr  life  ^vhic  h  Ave  muR  make  of  the  prelcnt 
dodlrine  is,  To  inform  us  why  the  people  of 
God  fuffLr  lb  much  in  this  life.  What  wonder? 
when  you  fee  their  refl  doth  yet  reivain  :  tley  are  not 
yet  come  to  their  reding  place.  A¥e  would  all  fain 
have  continual  profperity,  becaufe  it  is  pleafmg  to  the 
flefli  ;  but  we  confider  not  the  unreafonablenefs  of  fucli 
defires.  We  are  like  children,  who  if  they  fee  any 
thing  which  their  appetite  defireth,  cry  for  it :  and 
if  you  tell  them  that  it  is  unwholcfome,  or  hurtful 
for  thenij  they  are  never  the  more  quieted  ;  or  if  you 
go  about  to  heal  any  fore  that  they  have,  they  will 
not  endure  you  to  hurt  them,  though  you  tell  them,  that 
they  cannot  otherwifc  be  healed  ;  their  fenfe  is  too 
ftrong  for  their  reafon,  and  therefore  reafon  doth  lit- 
tle perfuade  them.  Even  fo  it  is  with  us  when  God 
is  alfliding  us  :  he  giveth  us  reafons  why  we  mufl 
bear  it,  fo  that  our  reafon  is  eft  convinced  and  fatif- 
lied,  and  yet  we  cry  and  complain  ftill  ;  it  is  not  rea-' 
fon,  but  eafe  that  we  mud  have  :  fpiritu?.l  remedies 
may  cure  the  fpirit's  maladies  ;  but  that  will  not  con- 
tent the  fie  111. 

But  methinks  chriftlans  fliould  have  another  palate 
thao  that  of  the  fiefh,  to  try  and  relifli  providences  by  ; 
God  hath  given  them  the  Spirit  to'fubdue  the  flefh. 
And  therefore  I  fliall  here  give  them  fome  reafons  of 
God's  dealing  in  thfir  prefent  fufferings,  whereby  the 
equity  and  mercy  therein  jnay  appear  ;   and  they  Hiall 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  183 

be  only  fuch  as  are  dra\7n  from  the  reference  thr.tthefs 
afliclions  have  to  oar  rel\  ;  which  bein^-  a  chrifHan'i 
l-.appiners,  and  ultimate  end,  will  dired\  him  in  jud;^-- 
iwg  of  all  eftatcs  and  means. 

1.  Cor.Palei-  then,  That  khour  and  trruible  ?.r2  the 
common  way  to  reil,  both  in  tho  courfe  ol:'  nature  and 
of  grace,  (hn  there  pofiibly  be  relt  without  motion 
and  wt'Arlnefs  ?  Do  you  net  travel  aiul  toil  fr.  11,  and 
then  refl  afterwards?  The  driy  for  labour  goes  firf}, 
and  then  the  night  for  refl  doth  follow.  Why  Oiould 
we  dePire  the  courfe  of  grace  to  be  perverted,  atjy  more 
than  wc  would  do  the  courfe  cf  nature?  God  did 
once  dry  up  the  fLM  to  make  a  ptifTage  for  his  people  ; 
and  once  niAde  the  fun  in  the  firmament  to  ilaiui  Hill  : 
buf'nuifl  he  do  fo  always  ?  Or  as  oft  as  we  would  have 
him  ?  It  i,^  his  tilablilhed  decree,  •'  That  through  nvA- 
ny  tribi'iations  we  muft  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  Ads  xiv.  22.  ''  .And  that  if  we  futfcr  widi 
him,  wc  fhall  alfo  be  glorified  with  him,"  2  Ti«i.  ii. 
12.  And  what  are  we,  that  God's  ftatutcs  flioukl  be 
reverfed  for  our  pleafnre  ?  As  Bildad  faid  to  Job, 
Chap,  xviii.  4.  '*  Shall  the  earth  be  forfakcnfor  thee  ? 
or  the  rock  be  removc^d  out  cf  his  place  ?  So,  nun 
God  pervert  this  cfialjlidied  order  for  thee  :" 

2.  Confidcr  alfo,  That  aiiiiclions  arc  exceeding  ufe- 
ful  to  us,  to  keep  us  from  mi(\aking  cur  refiing  place, 
and  \o  taking  up  fhort  of  it.  A  chriftian's  motion 
heaven-wards  is  voluntary,  and  not  conPu-aincd.  Thofe 
means  therefore  are  mod  profitable  to  him,  which  help 
his  underl\anding  ana  will,  in  this  proiccuticn.  The 
molf  dangerous  m.iilake  that  our  fouls  are  capable  of, 
is,  to  take  the  creature  for  God,  and  ep.vth  for  heaven. 
And  yet,  alas,  how  common  _^  this  1  Though  v/e  are 
afliamed  to  fpeak  fo  much  witft  our  tongues,  yet  how 
oft  do  our  hearts  fay.  It  is  best  iK^ing  here  I  And  how 
contented  are  we  with  an  earthly  portion  !  So  that  I 
fear,  God  would  difplcafe   moi\    of  us  mere  tg  ziHiCt 


184  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

us  here,  and  promifa  inrel  hereaucr,  than  to  give  us 
our  hearts  ilefire  on  earth,  though  he  had  never  mr.dc 
u'  a  prt.;nire  of  heaven.  As  if  the  creature  without 
fiod,  were  better  tlian  God  ^vlthont  the  creature. 
Alas,  hov/  apt  i.rj  we,  iike  foolilh  cliiidien,  v/hen  ^Ye 
arc  bufy  at. cur  !'  ;  :s  and  \vcrldly  einployments,  to 
forget  both  our  father  aud  our  liomc  I  Therefore  it 
is  a  hard  thing  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  heaven,  bc- 
t7.Wit  it  is  hard  fo/  hi.:i  to  value  it  tiore  th^n  earth, 
and  not  think  he  is  uell  already.  Come  to  a  ujan  that 
h'ridi  the  \vorld  at  vill,  and  tell  hi.n,  This  is  not  your 
happinefs,  you  Have  higher  things  to  look  after  ;  and 
how  little  v/ill  he  reo;aid  you  ?  l>:it  \vl\eri  afSictlon 
Comes,  it  fp^aks  conviiuingiy,  and  wiji  be  heard  when 
preachejs  canjjot. 

Someti'.r.es  a  Hncere  man  b.-gins  to  bj  lifted  up  with 
applaufe  ;  and  fometimes  being  in  health  and  profpe- 
ricy,  he  hath  lofl  his  rclifii  of  Clirift,  and  the  joys 
above  ;  till  God  break  in  upon  his  riches,  and  fcatter 
them  abroad,  or  upon  his  children,  or  upon  his  confci- 
cnce,  or  upon  the  health  of  his  body,  and  break  down 
his  mount  which  be  thought  io  (hong  :  and  then  when 
he  lieth  in  ManafT'ih's  fetters,  or  is  faQened  to  his  bed 
with  pining  ticknels,  O  what  an  opportunity  Iiath  the 
i>pirit  to  plead  with  his  foul  !  When  the  world  is  worth 
nothing,  then  heaven  is  worth  fomeihing. 

How  oft  have  I  been  ready  to  tlilnk  myfcirat  h<ime, 
till  licknefs  kath  rour.  !ly  told  me,  I  was  millaken  ! 
And  how  apt  y^t  to  f..ll  into  the  lame  diieafe,  which 
prevailedi  till  it  lie  remeved  by  the  fame  cure  1  If  our 
dear  Lord  did  not  put  thefe  tnorns  into  our  bed,  we 
ihouid  deep  out  our  liveb,    and  lofj   our  glory. 

3.  Confid'.r,  affiiftTOns  aie  God's  moH:  effeaual 
r.ie.ins,  :o  keep  us  fsom  ilraggiing  out  of  the  way  to 
©ur  reft.  If  lie  had  not  let  a  hedge  of  thorns  on  the 
r'ght  hand,  and  on  tlie  i-ft,  we  fhould  hardly  keep  tU« 


The  Saints''  Everlastinz  ^eft. 


a 


way  to  heaven  :  if  there  be  but  one  gap  open  without 
thefe  thorns,  how  rearly  are  we  to  turn  out  at  it?  Rut 
Avhen  -we  cannot  go  aftray,  butthcfe  thorns  will  prick 
us,  perhaps  we  will  be  content  to  hold  the  way.  When 
v.e  grow  wanton  or  \vorklly,  or  proud  ;  what  a  nota- 
ble means  is  fickneis,  or  other  aftiiclion,  to  reduce 
us  ?  It  is  every  cliritliaii,  as  well  as  Luther,  that  may 
call  afliclioii  one  of  his  heft  fchrol-maders.  Many  a 
one  as  well  as  D^.vid,  may  fay  by  experience,  Before 
I '•iVas  cjjiictcd  I  went  astray^  but  now  have  I  'kept  thy 
precepts,  M^iny  a  "choufand poor  rccovei-ed  Hnner*  ir.ay 
cry,  O  healthful  ficknefs  !  O  comfortable  forrovvs  1  O 
gainful  loffes  I  O  enriching  poverty  1  O  blcilcd  da)r, 
that  erer  I  was  aiHtcled  !  I;:  is  not  only  "  the  plejifan't 
Rreams,  and  the  green  palUi res,  but  his  rod, and  llafT^il- 
fo  that  are  our  comf-^rt."  Thoiii^h  I  know  it  is  the 
word  and  Spirit  that  do  the  work  ;  yet  certainly  the 
tiiue  of  fuffering  is  {o  opportune  a  feafon,  th^t  the  fame 
word  will  take  them  then,  which  before  was  fcarce 
obfervcd  ;  it  doth  fo  unbolt  the  door  of  the  heart,  that 
a  miniiter  or  a  friend  may  then  Idc  heard,  and  the  word 
may  iiave  ealier  entrance  to  the  affeflior.s. 

A,  Conlider,  afflictions  are  God's  mod  effedual 
mcansj  to  make  us  mend  cur  pece  in  the  way  to  our 
reR.  They  are  his  rod,  and  his  fpur  :  what  lluggarci 
will  not  awiike  and  ftir  when  he  feelcth  them  ?  It  v/erc 
well  if  mere  love  would  prevail  with  us,  and  that  we 
were  rather  drawn  to  heaven,  than  driven  :  but  fee- 
ing our  hearts  are  fo  bad,  that  mercy  vvill  not  do  it  ; 
it  is  better  v/e  be  put  on  with  the  fliarpefl:  fccurge^ 
than  loiter  out  our  thrse  till  the  doors  are  lljut. 

O  what  a  difference  is  there  bctv.-lxt  our  prayers  in 
health  and  in  Hcknefs  !  bttv/ixt  our  p;  ofperity  and  ad- 
verfity-repentings  1  He  that  before  had  not  a  tear  to 
fhed,  or  a  groan  to  utter,  now  can  fob,  and  figh,  and 
weep  :  he  that  was  wont'to  be  like  a  block  in  prayer, 
(}   2 


186  The  Saints''  Eier lasting  Rent. 

and  fcnrcc  miridf-d  AvhrAt  he  fald  to  Gcd  :  now  aiiiictl- 
rn  prsff-thhini  down,  how  earneniy  ciui  he  beg  !  how- 
doth  he  mingle  his  prayers  and  his  tears  !  And  cry 
cut,  what  a  peribn  he  will  be,  If  God  will  but  hear 
him  and  deliver  him  1  Alas  !  ifv.e  did  not  iometiiiKS 
feel  the  fpiir,  Avhat  a  (low  pace  would  moft  of  us  hold 
toward  heaven  ! 

Seeing  then  what  our  vile  natures  require,  why 
iSiould  wc  be  unwilling  God  Ihould  do  us  good  by  a 
fliarp  means  ?  Sure  that  is  the  bcft  dealing  for  us  which 
furcll  and  fooneft  doth  further  us  for  heaven.  I  leave 
thee,  chriftian,  to  judge  by  thy  own  experience,  whe- 
ther thou  doft  not  go  more  watchfully,  and  lively, 
and  fpeedily  in  thy  way  to  reft,  in  thy  fufferings, 
than  thou  dofl  in  thy  more  pleafing  and  proiperous 
Hate. 

Laflly,  confider  God  doth  feldom  give  his  people 
fo  fweet  a  fcre-tafte  of  their  future  reft,  as  in  their 
deep  afflidlions.  He  keepeth  his  moft  precious  cordi- 
als fur  the  time  of  our  greateft  faintings  and  dangf:rs. 
God  is  not  fo  laviih  of  his  choice  favours  as  to  be- 
llow them  unfcafonably  :  he  gives  them  at  fo  fit  a 
tl.ne,  when  he  knoweth  they  are  needful,  and  will  be 
valued  ;  and  when  he  is  fure  to  be  thanked  for  them, 
and  his  people  rejoiced  by  them.  Efpecially,  when 
(ur  fuffcrings  are  more  dircclly  for  his  caul'e,  then 
doth  he  feldom  fail  of  fwietening  the  bitter  cup. 
Tiiereforc  have  the  martyrs  been  polTefTors  of  the  high- 
eft  joys,  ar>d  therefore  were  thty  fo  ambitious  of  mjir- 
tyrdom.  I  do  not  think  that  Paul  and  Silas  did  ever 
fing  mori  joyfully,  that  when  they  were  fore  with 
fcourging,  and  fuft  .  in  the  iuner  piifon,  Avith  their 
fv'.;tintbe  ftocks.  When  did  Ghrift  preach  fuch  com- 
forts to  his  difciplcs,  and  affure  them  of  his  provid- 
ing them  maniionc-  with  himfclf,  but  when  he  was 
re:idy  to  ledve  them,  and  thtir  hearts  were  forrowful 
becarufe  of  his  departure  ?  When  did  he  appear  among 


187 

tb.eni,  and  fay,  peace  be  unto  you^  but  when  tLcy  were 
iiuit  up  togL'ther  tor  icar  of  tLe  pcrlccuting  Jews  ? 
When  did  Stephen  fee  heaven  opened,  but  when  he 
\v:is  giving  up  his  life  for-  the  tellimony  of  Jefu5  ? 
And  though  we  be  never  put  to  the  fuirerincc  of  mar- 
tyrdom, yet  God  knoweth  that  in  our  niitaral  fuffjr- 
ing's  v/e  need  fupport. 

Seeing  then  that  the  ti:re  of  afHi'fticn,  is  the  time 
of  our  moil  pure,  fpirltual,  and  lieavtnly  joy,  f.jr 
the  mcfl  part  :  why  Ihould  a  chriftian  think  it  fo  bad 
a  time  ?  Is  not  that  our  bell  eftate,  wherein  we  havti 
Dofc  of  God?  Why^Ue-do  we  dcGre  to  come  to 
heaven  ?  If  v/e  look  for  a  heaven  of  fleflily  delights, 
v/e  ilidU  iind  ourfelves  miflaken.  Concludj  then,  that 
afilicVion  is  not  ^o  bad  a  ftate  in  our  way  to  reft,  as 
th,e  di'lh  v/ould  make  it.  Ave  we  v/ifcr  than  God  ? 
Doth  not  he  know  what  is  good  for  us  better  than 
wc  f  Or  is  he  not  as  careful  of  our  good,  as  we  are 
of  our  owli-?  Ah.  wo  to  us  if  he  were  not  much  more  ! 
And  if  he  did  not  iove  us  better  than  w'c  love  either 
him  or  ouneives  1 

Bat  let  U3  liear  a  little  what  it  is  that  wg  can  objecl, 

I.  Oh,  faith  one,  I  could  bear  any  other  afnictioii 
fave  this:  if  God  had  touched  me  in  any  thing  elfe, 
I  could  have  undt-.rgcne  it  patiently  ;  but  it  is  my 
deurell  friend,  or  child,   or  wife,  or  my  health  itlelf. 

I  anr.rer,  it  fecneth  God  hath  hit  the  right  vein, 
where  ti;y  moil  in'lanied,  didempercd  blood  did  lie  : 
it  is  his  coi'ilant  couric  to  pull  dov,-h  men's  idols,  and 
take  away  that  which  is  clearer  to  them  than  himfeif. 
There  it  is  tiiat  his  jealoafy  i»  kindled  ;  and  there  it 
is  that  the  foul  is  moil  e.uUngered.  If  God  Cioulcl 
kave  taken  from  thee  chat  which  thou  canil  let  go  for 
hii.i,  and  not  that  v/hich  thcu  canfl  not  ;  or  have  af- 
tliiled   thee  wh?:e  tli  n!  can'l  hear  it,  and  not  where 


188  The  Saints''  Evcr/astimr  Rest, 


thou  canfl  not ;  thy  idul  would  ncichr.r  have  been  dlf- 
covereu  nor  r.movcJ;  this  would  neither  h;ivcbe,-'n  a 
rufliclent  trial  to  thee,  nor  a  cure,  but  have  con- 
fiiintd  thee  in  tiiy  Idolatry. 

Objcd.  2.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  if  God  would 
but  deliver  nic  out  of  it  at  lafl,  I  coiil  1  be  content 
to  bear  it  :  but  I  have  an  incurable  ficknefs,  or  I 
am  like  to  live  and  die  in  poverty,  or  difgrace,  or 
diftrcfs. 

I  anfwer,  I.  Is  it  nothing  that  he  hath  promifed, 
it  slicill  nvurk for  thv good?  Rom*  viii.  28.  and  iliat  with 
the  affliction  he  ivill  ir.cihc  a  way  to  escape  ?  that  he 
will  be  with  thee  in  it  ?  and  deliver  thee  in  the  filteft 
manner  and  feafon  ? 

2.  Ts  it  not  encuq-h  that  t!i<;u  art  fure  to  be  dtliv- 
eied  at  death,  and  that  with  fo  full  a  deliverance  I 
Oh,  what  curfcd  unbelief  doih  this  difcover  in  our 
hearts  1  Tl)at  we  would  be  more  thankful  to  be  turn- 
ed back  again  into  the  florniy  fea  of  the  v/orid,  than 
to  be  fafely  and  fpeedily  landed  at  our  reft  I  And 
voiild  be  more  glad  of  a  few  years  inferior  mercies  at 
a  diftante,  tlian  to  enter  upon  the  eternal  inheritance 
•with  Chrift  !  Do  we  call  God  our  chief  good,  and 
heaven  our  happinefs  ?  and  yet  is  it  no  mercy  or  de- 
liverance to  be  taken  hence,  and  put  into  that  pof- 
felfion  ? 

Objecl.^^.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  if  my  afiliclioR 
^id  not  diuble  ir.c  for  duty,  1  could  bear  it  ;  but  it 
maketh  me  ufclcfs  and  utterly  unprofitable. 

Anfw.  1,  For  that  duty  w!:icii  tendei.h  to  thy  oww 
benefit,  it  doth  not  difabl  i  thee  ;  but  \%  tlie  g-rcatell 
help  that  thou  canlt  expcit.  Thou  ufefl  to  complain 
of  coldncf?,  ?.nd  dulnefs  and  worldlinefs,  and  fecuri- 
ty  :  if  aiaidlion  will  not  help   thee  againil  aii  thefe, 


The  Saints''  EoerkisUncr    Rest,  189 


by  Avarning,  quickenin**,  rouziiif*  thy-  fpirlt,  I  know 
not  what  will.  Sure  thou  wile  repent  througiily,  and 
pray  fervently,  and  n:ind  God  and  heaven  mor,e  fe- 
riouHy,  either   now  or   never. 

C.  As  for  duty  to  others,  and  fervice  to  the  chuvch, 
it  is  not  thy  duty  when  God  doth  dlHihle  thee.  He 
may  call  thee  out  oftlie  vineyard  in  this  re{j3e£l,  even 
before  he  call  thee  by  death.  If  he  by  thee  in  the 
grave  and  put  oUi-^vs  in  thy  place,  is  this  any  wrcxni'; 
to  thee  ?  Gj  if  he  call  thee  out  before  thy  death,  vhmX 
fet  others  to  do  the  work,  fiiouldfl  thou  not  be  as  well 
content  ?  Mull  Gcd  do  all  the  v/ork  by  thee  ?  H-itk 
h::  not  uiasy  others  as  dear  to  him,  and  as  fit  for  the 
employment  ?  But  alas,  wh.it  decelcfulnefs  lieth  in 
the  To  hearts  1  When  we  have  time,  and  health,  and 
op;)ortunity  to  work,  then  we  loiter,  and  do  our 
Mailer  but  poor  fervice  :  but  when  he  layeth  aifli(fli- 
on  apon  us,  thcii  vve  complain  that  he  difableth  us  for 
his  work,  and  yet  perhaps  we  arc  dill  negligent  in 
that  part  oftlie  Avork  v/hich  we  can  do.-  So,  when 
we  are  in  health  and  profperity,  we  forget  the  public, 
and  are  carelefs  of  other  men's  miferies  and  wants,  and 
mind  almofl  nothing  but  ourfelves  ;  but  wlien  God 
atliicleth  us,  though  he  excite  us  more  to  duty  for  our- 
f^lves,  yet  we  complain  that  he  difableth  us  for  our 
duty  to  others  :  as  if  on  a  fnJdcn  v/e  were  grown  fo 
ciiarltable,  that  we  regard  other  jncn's  fouls  more  than 
our  ov/n  !  But  is  not  the  hand  of  tlefhin  all  this  dii- 
finiuhition,  pleading  its  own  caui'c  ?  What  pride  of 
heart  is  this,  to  think  that  other  men  cannot  do  the 
work  as  weli  as  we  1  Or  that  God  taiinot  fee  to  iiis 
church,  and  provide  for  his  people,  without  us  1 

01)ject.  4.  Oh,  but  faith  another,  it  is  my  friends 
that  are  my  alil'.clers  :  they  difclaim  me,  and  wdl  fcarce 
look  at  me  :  they  cenfure  inc,  and  backbite  me,  and 
llander  me,  and  look  upon  me  with  a  dil'dainful  eye  ; 
if  it  .were  ot/tcrs,  I  could  bear  it,   I  look  for  no  be  iter 


190  The  Saint^^  Everlasting  Rest. 

from  them  :  but  when  thofc  that  are  iry  delight,  and 
that  1  looked  for  Ci-'iniort  and  rtfrelhin^  frcni,  vhcn 
ihofc  arc  as  thorns  in  iny  ficlca,  who  can  bear  it  ? 

Anfw.  1.  Whoever  inhe  inrtrument,  the  afSiflira 
is  from  God,  and  the  provoking  caufe  f.om  thyfelt'r 
and  were  it  not  fitter  thai:  thou  look  more  to  God 
and  th)felf? 

C.  Dofl  thou  not  knew,  that  good  men  are  dill  fin- 
ful  in  psit  ?  and  thatth.'ir  hearts  arc-  naturally  deceit- 
ful, and  dcfperately  wicked,  as  wrll  as  others  ?  Leari\ 
tlieref  re  a  'o^tter  loTon  from  th^  p:L>phtt,  Micah  vii. 
5,  6,  7.  "  Truft  net  (too  mucii)  in  a  friend,  nor  put 
confidence  in  a  [,u'dc:  :  kc-p  tlic  doors  of  thy  mouth 
from  he-  that  lieih  in  thy  bofom  :  but  look  r^.thcr  for 
the  Lord,  and  wiiit  for  th;.'  GoJ  of  thy  falvation." 

3.  It  ii  likely  thou  hall  given  that  love  and  trufl  to 
jutn,  which  was  dui^  ouly  to  God  :  cr  v.-hlch  thou 
haft  denied  him  :  and  then  no  wen  U  r  if  lu'  chaflifp, 
thee  by  them.  If  we  would  ufc  our  friends  as  friends, 
God  would  make  thsm  cur  helps  and  comforts  :  but 
when  once  we  make  them  our  gods,  by  excefiivc  Icvc 
and  truft,  then  he  fuflfers  them  to  be  our  accufcrs  and 
tormentors  :  it  is  more  fafe  to  me  to  have  any  crea- 
ture a  fatan  than  a  god  :  to  be  tormented  Ly  them 
than  toidollz--  thtm.  Tdl  thou  hall  learned  to  iuffcr 
from, the  good,  asi  well  as  the  ungodly,  never  look  to 
live  a  contented  or  comfortable  life,  nor  ever  think 
thou  hal't  truly  learned  the  art  of  futfering. 

Objt<5l.  Oh,  but  if  I  had  tliat  coufolation,  which 
you  fay  God  refervetii  for  our  fiil^iVring  timts,  I 
fn.vuld  fuff-r  more  contentedly  :   but  1  do  not  perceive 

ai.y  lu(  h  thing. 

Aafv/.  1.  The  more  you  fufTer  for  ri;;hteoufnefs- 
fake,  the  more  of  thi»  blelfing  you  may  expc<S  ;  and 


The  Saint.i-   Evcrlastlnor  Rest,  191 


o 


the  more  you  fuffer  for  your  own  evil-doing,  the 
longer  you  mull:  look  to  (lay  till  that  fweetnefs  come. 
AVhen  we  have  by  our  folly  provoked  God  to  chaflife 
us,  fhall  we  prcfenily  look  that  he  fliould  fill  us  with 
comfort  ?  "  That  were  (as  Mr.  Paul  Bayn  faith)  to 
*'  make  afiiiftion  to  be  no  afilicflion."  What  good 
would  the  bicterntfs  do  us,  If  it  be  prcfently  drowned 
in  that  fvveetnefs  ?  It  is  well  in  fuch  fufferings,  if  you 
have  but  fupporting  grace  ;  and  if  your  fuffeiings  are 
faudlified  to  work  out  your  fin. 

2.  Do  you  not  negle6l  or  rcfift  the  comforts  which 
you  delire  ?  God  hath  filled  precepts  and  prouiiles, 
and  other  of  his  providences,  with  matter  of  comfort  ; 
if  you  overlook  all  thele,  and  obferve  one  crofs  more 
than  a  thoufand  mercies,  who  maketh  you  uncomfort- 
able but  yourfelves  ?  If  you  rcfolve  you  will  not  be 
comfortable  as  long  as  any  thing  ail:;th  your  flefh,  you 
may  (lay  till  death,  before  you  have  comfort. 

3.  Hav^e  your  afflictions  wrought  kindly  with  you 
and  fitted  you  for  comfort  ?  Have  they  humbled  you, 
and  brought  you  to  a  faithful  confeflion  and  reforma- 
tion of  your  beloved  fin  r  and  made  you  fet  clofe  to 
your  neglecTlcd  duties  ?  and  weaned  your  hearts  from 
their  former  idols  ?  and  brought  them  unfeignedly  to 
take  God  for  their  portion  and  their  reft?  If  this  be 
not  done,  how  can  you  expedl  comfort  ?  Should  God 
bind  up  the  fore  while  it  fcftereth  at  the  bottom  ?  It  is 
not  mere  fuffering  that  prepares  you  for  comfort  ;  but 
the  fuccefs  and  fruit  of  fuffering  upon  your  hearts. 


192  The  Sciint.'i^  Everlasting  I^est, 

CHAP.     XL 


U'' 


An  Exhortation  to  those  that  have  got  Ai:?,i!rajKe 
of  this  Rest^  that  they  zvould  do  all  they  possi- 
bly can  to  help  ethers  to  it, 

HATH  Gocl  ft't  before  us  fuch  a  glorious  pvir.e 
as  this  everlartlng  Reft,  and  made  man  capable 
of  fuch  im  inconceivable  happlnefs  ?  Why  then  do  not 
all  the  children  of  this  kingdom  beftir  themfelves  more 
to  help  others  to  the  enjoyment  of  it  ?  Alas,  liow  lit- 
tle are  poor  fouls  about  us,  beholden  to  the  moft  of  us  ? 
We  fee  the  glory  of  the  kingdom,  and  they  do  not  : 
Avc  fee  the  mifery  ?^nd  torment  of  thofe  that  mifs-  of  it, 
and  they  do  not  :  we  fee  them  wandering  quite  out  of 
the  way,  and  know  if  they  hold  on,  they  can  never 
come  there  ;  and  they  difcern  not  this  themfelves. 
And  yet  v.'e  will  not  fet  upon  them  ferioufly,  and  ftiew 
them  their  danger  and  error,  ar.d  help  to  bring  them 
into  the  way  that  they  may  live.  Alas,  how  few 
chriftians  are  there  to  be  found,  that  live  as  men  that 
are  made  to  do  good,  and  that  fe^t^i^mfelves  with  all 
their  might  to  the  faving  of  foul? !  >^o  thanks  to  us  if 
lacaven  be  not  empty,  and  if  the-fouls  of  pur  brethren 
periHi  not  for  ever.  .    ^J^ Z^-  / 

But  becauft  this  is  a  duty  v.hich  fo  many  negledl, 
and  fo  few  are  convinced  that  Gcd  dotli  expcdl  it  at 
their  hands,  and  yet  a  duty  of  fo  high  concernment 
to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  happinefs  of  men  ;  I 
will  fpeak  of  it  fomcwhat  the  more  largely,  and  fliew 
you,  1.  Wherein  it  doth  confift.  2.  What  is  the 
caufe  that  it  is  fo  neglecled.  3.  Give  fome  conGde- 
rations  to  perfuade  you  to  the  performance  of  it,  and 
others  to  the  bearing  of  it,  4.  Apply  this  more  par- 
ticularly to  fome  perfons  whom  it  doth  liearly  con» 
cern. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  19^ 

1.  T  would  have  yon  well  underftand  what  is  this 
work  which  I  am  perluauing  you  to.  Know  then  on 
the  negative. 

1.  It  is  not  to  invade  the  ofRce  of  the  miniftiy,  and 
every  man  to  turn  a  public  preacher.  I  would  not 
have  you  go  beyond  the  bounds  of  your  calling  ;  we 
fee  by  daily  experience,  what  fruits  thofc  men's  teach- 
ing doth  bring  forth,  who  run  uncalled  of  God,  and 
thruft  theinfelves  into  tlic  place  of  public  teachers, 
thinking  thcmfclvcs  the  fitteft  for  tjie  work  in  the 
pride  of  their  hearts,  while  they  had  need  to  be  taught 
the  very  principles  of  religion  :  how  littWdoth  God 
blefs  the  labours  of  thefeilULconcejted  ii^ruders,  even 
if  they  be  oraa.ned  1  ^Jf/~i;f%iAk^s^^  > 

2.  Neither  do  Iperfuade  you  to  a  zealous  promoting 
of  failions  and  parties,  and  venting  of  uncertain  opi- 
nious,  which  men's  falvation  is  little  concerned  in. 
Alas,  what  advantage  hath  the  devil  always  got  in  the 
cimrch  by  this  impollure  !  The  time  that  Ihould  be 
employed  in  dravvnig  men's  fouls  from  fin  to  Chrifl;,  is 
employed  in  drawing  them  to  opinions  and  parties  : 
when  men  are  fallen  m  love  w  ith  their  own  conceits, 
and  think  themfelves  the  wifeft,  hew  diligently  do 
they  labour  to  get  tbtm  followers  ?  as  if  to  make  a 
man  a  proftlyte  to  their  opinions,  were  as  happy  a 
work  as  to  convert  him  to  Chrift  I  and  when  they  fall 
among  the  lighter,  ignorant  fort  of  men,  whofe  reli- 
gion is  all  in  the  brain,  and  on  feheir  tongue,  they 
feldom  fail  of  fuccels.  Thefe  men  (hall  fiiortly  know", 
that  to  bring  a  man  to  the  knowledge  and  love  cf 
Chrifl  is  anotner  kind  of  work  than  to  bring  \\\m  to 
be  baptifiid  again,  or  to  be  of  fuch  a  church,  or  fuch 
a  fide.  U.ihappy  are  the  fouls  that  are  taken  in  their 
fnare  ;  who  when  they  have  fpent  their  lives  in  con- 
tending for  the  circumflantials  of  religion,  which 
Ihould  have  been  fpent  in  Iludying   and    loving  tne 


b 


194  Tht  Saints^  Everlastmg  Rest. 

Lord    Jefuj,  do    in   tlie    end  reap   an  empty  harVcQ, 
luitable  to  their  empty  profeflion. 

o.  Nor  do  I  perfuade  you  to  fpcak  ag^iuft  men'* 
faults  behind  their  backs,  and  be  lilcMit  before  tlieir 
faces,  as  the  common  cuftom  of  the  world  is.  'J'o 
tell  other  men  of  their  faults,  tendeth  little  to  their 
reformation,  if  they  hear  it  not  themfelves.  To 
v.'hifper  men's  faults  to  others,  as  it  cometh  not  from 
love,  nor  from  an  honeft  pi  inciple,  fo  ufually  doth  it 
produce  no  good  effedl :  for  if  the  party  hear  not  of 
it,  it  cannot  better  him  ;  if  he  do,  he  will  take  it  hut 
as  the  reproach  of  an  enemy,  and  not  as  the  faithful 
counfel  of  a  fiiend,  and  as  that  which  is  fpokcn  to  make 
him  odious,  and  not  to  make  him  virtuous  ;  it  tend- 
eth not  to  provoke  to  godlinefs,  but  to  raife  conten- 
tion ;  for  a  whisperer  separateth  chief  friends.  And 
how  few  ill  all  wc  find  that  make  confcience  of  this 
horrible  fin  ?  or  that  will  confefs  it,  and  bewail  it, 
•when  they  are  reprehended  for  it  ?  efpecially  if  men 
are  Ipeaking  of  their  enemies,  or  thofe  that  have 
wronged  them  ;  or  whom  they  lupj>Dfe  to  have  wrong- 
ed ti-iCm,  or  if  it  be  of  one  that  eclipleth  their  glory, 
or  that  ftandeth  in  the  way  of  their  gain  or  elleem  :  or 
if  it  be  one  that  differeth  from  them  in  judgment  ;  or 
cf  one  that  is  commonly  fpoken  againd  by  others  ;  who 
is  itthatmaketh  any  confcience  of  backbiting  fuch  as. 
thefe  ?  And  you  Ihall  ever  obiervc,  that  the  forv.  aid- 
er they  are  to  backbiting,  the  more  backward  always 
to  fai^.hful  admcnilhing  ;  and  nt  ne  Ipeak  lels  of  a 
man's  faults  to  his  face,  than  thofe  thai  fpeak  moft  of 
them  behind  his  back. 

So  far  am  I  from  perfuading  therefore  to  this  pre- 
poRerous  courie,  that  1  would  advife  you  to  oppofe  it 
-wherever  you  meet  with  it.  See  that  you  never  hear 
amanfpeaking  againft  his  neighbour  behind  his  back 
(without  foine  i]:eci:^l  caule  or  call)  butprefently  re- 
buke   him  :   aik    him,  whvither    he-   hath  Ipoken  thoie 


The  Sahita^  Everlasting  Rest,  1 93 

thing's  in  a  way  of  love  to  \\\-.  fare?  it  he  In^h  not, 
alk  him,  how  he  dare  to  pervert  God's  piefcrihrd  or- 
der, who  cominandeth  to  rebuke  our  neiv,hbov.r  plain- 
ly-, and  to  lell  him  his  fault  firft  in  private,  and  then 
before  witnefs,  till  he  fee  whether  he  wiU  be  won, 
or  not?  And  how  he  dare  do  a-^  Iv.-  would  not  be 
done  by  ? 

The  dir.v  therefore  that  I  woiiid  pi-efs  you  to  i.»  of 
another  nature,  and  it  coJififieth  in  thci'e  tilings  fol- 
lowing- : 

1.  That  you  get  your  hearts  afTrcTled  with  the  mr.e^ 
ry  of  your  brethren's  fouls  :  be  compailiona'ce  tov/arcs 
them  ;  yearn  after  their  falvation.  If  you  did  ef.rncfc- 
ly  long  after  their  conveiTion,  aud  your  hearts  were 
fully  fet  to  do  them  good,  it  NVould  fet  you  on  work, 
and  God  would  ufually  blefsit. 

2.  Take  all  opportunities  that  poffibly  you  can,  to 
inflruft  and  ht'Ip  them  to  the  attaining  of  falvation. 
And  left  you  Ihould  liot  know  liow  to  manage  thii 
work,  let  me  tell  you  more  pirticuiarly  witat  you  iire 
herein  to  do.  I.  If  it  be  an  ignorant  perfon  you  have 
to  deal  with,  who  is  an  utter  ftranger  to  the  niyfteries 
of  religion,  and  to  the  work  of  regeneration,  the  firfl 
thing  you  have  to  do,  is,  to  acquaint  him  v.ith  thefe 
dofirines  :  labour  to  make  him  underiiand  v/hcrcin 
man's  chief  happinefs  doth  confiil  ;  and  how  far  he 
v/as  once  polVcIfjd  of  it  ;  and  wiiat  law  and  covenant 
God  then  n^dde  with  liiin  ;  and  how  he  broke  it  ;  and 
wiiat  peiialty  he  incurred,  and  what  mifcry  he  brouglit 
himfcif  into  thereby;  teach  him  \?  hat  need  men  had 
of  a  Redeemer;  and  how  Chrift  in  ineicy  did  inter- 
j)ofe,  and  bear  the  penalty  ;  and  what  covenant  now 
he  hath  made  with  man  ;  and  on  what  terms  only  fal- 
vation i:-:  now  to  be  attained  ;  and  v/hat  crurfe  Chrift 
takcth  to  draw  men  to  hinjfelf ;  and  what  are  the 
riches  and  privileges  that  believers  have  in  him. 


1 96  The  Sain  ts '  JEv  er  las  ting  Rest, 

If  when  he  under  Ran  Js  thefe  things,  he  be  not  mov- 
ed by  tliem  ;  or  it*  you  find  that  the  ftop  lieth  In  his 
will  and  affccftions,  Rnd  in  the  hardnefs  of  his  heart, 
and  in  the  intereO:  that  the  fi^lli  and  tlie  world  have  got 
in  him  ;  tljen  fnev/  him  the  excellency  of  the  glory 
■which  he  r.egltrcleth,  ar,d  tlit  intolerablenefs  of  the  lols 
of  it,  and  the  extreniiiy  andcternity  of  the  tormentsof 
the  damned,  and  how  certainly  tl^ey  nuift  endure  them  ; 
and  how  jufl:  it  is  for  their  wilful  rcfulals  of  grace  ; 
and  how  heinous  a  ^v^{\  it  is  to  rejc6l  inch  ftee  and  abun- 
dant mercy,  and  to  trcc-id  under  foot  the  blocd  of  the 
covenant :  fhew  him  the  certainty,  nearncis  and  terrors 
of  death  and  judg-ment,  and  the  vanity  of  all  things 
below,  which  now  he  1  >  takrn  up  with  ;  and  how  lit- 
tle they  will  beftead  him  in  that  time  of  his  extremity. 
Shew  him  that  by  nature  he  liimfclf  is  a  child  of  wrath, 
an  enemy  to  God  ;  and  by  acftuul  fin  much  more  :  fhew 
him  the  vile  and  heinous  nature  of  fin  ;  the  i.bfolutc 
neceifity  he  ftandetli  in  of  a  Sa\iour;  the  frecnel'scf  the 
promife  ;  the  fulntfs  of  Chrifl  ;  the  fufficicncy  of  his 
fatisfaction  ;  hi.}  readincfs  to  receive  all  that  are  wil- 
lingf  to  be  his  ;  and  the  authcrity  and  dominion  which 
he  hath  purchafed  over  us  ;  (hew  him  alfo  the  abfolute 
neceflity  of  regeneration,  faith  and  holinefs,  how  im- 
polTible  it  is  to  have  falvation  by  CUrifl:  without  thefe  ; 
and  what  they  are,  and  the  true  nature  of  them. 

If  when  he  und-.-rftandeth  all  this,  you  findhis  foul 
enthralled  in  falfe  hopes,  perfuading  hlmftlf  that  he 
is  a  true  believer,  and  pardoned,  and  reconciled,  and 
ihall  be  faved  by  Chrift,  and  all  this  upon  falfegrcunds, 
(which  is  a  common  cafe)  then  urge  him  hard  to  exa- 
mine his  ftate,  Hiew  him  the  necelfity  of  trying  ;  the 
danger  of  being  deceived;  the  commonnefs  and  eafi- 
nefs  of  miflaking  through  the  deceitfulnefs  of  the 
heart;  the  extreme  madnefs  of  putting  it  to  a  blind  ven- 
ture ;  cr  of  refbin^  in  negli^^ent  or  wilful  uncertainty  : 
help  him  in  tryinr^  himfelr;  produce  fome  undeniable 
tvidences  from  fcripture  ;  r.ik  Idm,  whether  thefe  be  in 


The  Saints'  E~jerhuthiz  Rest,  107 


him  or  not  ?  Whether  ever  he  foniidfuch  workings  or 
dijpontions  in  his  heart  ?  Urge  him  to  a  rational  an- 
fwer  :  do  not  leav-  him  till  you  have  convinctd  liini 
of  his  milery  ;  and  then  fcalbntibiy  and  wifely  fliew 
him  the  remedy. 

If  he  produce  feme  r;ift?,  or  duties,  or  work,  know 
to  what  end  he  doth  produce  them  :  if  to  join  with 
(thrift  in  compofing  him  a  righteonfiK-is,  llicw  him 
how  vain  and  defiruclive  they  are  :  if  it  be  by  way  of 
evidence  to  prove  his  title  to  Chrift  ;  fjiew  him  where- 
in th.e  life  of  chriftianity  dolh  conPifc,  and  how  far  he 
mud  go  farther,  if  he  will  be  Chrift's  difciple.  In  the 
mean  time,  that  he  be  not  difcouraged  with  hearing 
of  fo  high  a  meafure,  fliew  him  the  way  by  which  he 
Hiuft  attain  it  :  be  fure  to  draw  him  to  the  ufe  of  all 
means  :  fet  him  on  hearing  and  reading  the  word,  call- 
ing tipon  God,  accompanying  the  godly  ;  perfuade 
him  to  leave  his  adlual  fin,  and  to  get  out  of  all  ways 
of  temptation  :  eipecially  to  forfake  ungodly  compa- 
ny ;  and  to  wait  patiently  on  God  in  the  ufe  of  means  ; 
and  Ihew  him  the  flrong  hopes  that  in  fo  doing  he  may 
have  a  bltinng  ;  this  being  the  v/ay  that  God  will  be 
found  in. 

If  you  perceive  him  poaeried  >v:th  any  prejudices 
againfl  the  way  of  hclinels,  fliew  'iiim  ti^iir  falfe- 
bood,  and  with  wlfdom  and  mcekaei'V  ^r.x  .\  .:fr  his  ob- 
j^clions. 

If  he  he  addicted  to  delay  duties  he  Ii;  convinced  of, 
or  hiziiiefs  and  ilupidity  tnuanger  his  i'oul,  then  lay  it 
on  more  poweilaliy,  and  fet  home  upon  his  heart  the 
moil  piercuig  coniiderations,  and  labour  to  faften  them 
as  thorns  in  hi;  conlcience,  that  he  may  find  no  eaie  or 
roil  till  hi  thAUj-i  his  eiiate. 


R  2 


108  The  Sar'nts'  Everlastmg  7?f.?.^ 

But  becaiifo  in  all  works  the  jiianner  of  doing  them 
1"  ofgreateft  luomer.t,  ai,d  tlie  right  perfcrmance  doth 
much  further  the  fuceefs  ;  I  will  here  adjoin  a  tl-w  di- 
rec^ioDs,  which  you  muft  be  lure  to  oblervc  in  tins 
work  of  exhortation  ;  for  it  is  not  every  advice  that 
ufeth  to  lucceed,  nor  any  manner  of  doing  it  that  will 
ferve  the  turn.     Obferve  therefore  thefe  rules  ; 

1.  Set  upon  the  work  fincerely,  and  with  right  in- 
tentions. Let  thy  end  be  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
party's  falvation.  Do  it  not  to  get  a  name  or  efteem 
to  thyfelf ;  or  to  bring  men  to  depend  upon  thee  ; 
or  to  get  thee  many  follower*  :  do  not  as  many  pa- 
rents and  mafters  will  do,  viz,  rebuke  their  children 
and  fervants  for  thofc  fins  that  dif}jleafe  them-,  and  arc 
agalnft  their  profit  or  their  liumours,  as  difobedience, 
imthriftinefs,  unmannerlinefs  ;  but  never  feek  in  the 
right  way  that  God  hath  appointed  to  fave  their 
iouls.  *  But  be  fure,  the  main  end  be  to  recover  them 
from  mifery,  and  bring  them  into  the  way  of  eternal 
reft. 

2.  Do  it  fpeedily  :  as  you  would  not  have  them  de- 
lay their  return,  fo  do  not  thou  delay  to  feek  their  re- 
turn. Yen  are  purpofing  long  to  ipeak  to  fuch  an 
Ignorant  neighbour,  and  to  deal  with  fuch  a  fcanda- 
lou3  finner,  and  yet  you  have  never  done  it.  Ahs, 
he  runs  on  the  fcore  all  this  while  ;  he  goes  deeper  in 
debt;  wrath  is  heaping  up;  fin  taketh  rooting:  cuf- 
tom  doth  more  faften  him;  engagements  to  fin  grov/ 
flronger  and  more  numerous  ;  confcieiice  grows  f^^-ar- 
cd  ;  the  heart  grows  hardene  I ;  while  you  delay,  the 
devil  rules  and  rcjoiceth  ;  Chrifl  is  Ihut  out ;  the  Spi- 
rit is  repiiUcd  ;  God  is  daily  dilhonoured  ;  his  iavr 
23  violated;  h:;  is  without  a  fervant,  and  that  fervicc 
from  him  which  he  Ih(  uld  have  ;  time  runs  on  ;  the 
day  cf  vifitation  hafteth  ;  death  and  judgment  are  at 
the  door:  and  what  if  the  man  die  and  inifs  of  j:ea- 
ven,  while  you  are  purpofing  to  teach  him  ar.d    Iielp 


The  Saints^  Ever  last  hig-  Rest,  1 99 

him  to  it  ?  If  in  cais  of  his  bcdily  diRrefs,  yen  muft 
not  bid  him  go  and  come  again  to-morrow,  when 
you  have  it  by  you  ;  how  miicli  lefs  may  you  dslay 
the  iVicconr  of  his  foul  ?  if  once  death  fnatch  him  away, 
he  is  then  out  of  the  reac-h  ot*  your  charity.  That 
phylician  is  no  better  than  a  murderer,  that  negligent- 
ly df  layeth,  till  his  patient  be  dead  or  pafl  cure.  De- 
lay in  duty  Is  a  great  ck^greo  of  difobedience,  though 
you  afterwards  perform  it.  It  fhe-ws  an  ill  heart  that 
is  indifuofed  to  the  work.  O  how  many  a  poor  Gn- 
ner  periflietli  or  grows  rooted,  and  next  to  incur9.b!e 
r.\  fin,  v'.lc  we  are  purpoHng  to  feek  their  recovery  I 
Opportunities  laft  not  always.  When  tl'.ou  heareil 
that  the  fmner  is  dead,  or  removed,  or  grown  obfli. 
nate  ;  will  not  coiifcience  fay  to  thee,  hov/  knoweft 
thou  but  thou  mighieft  have  prevented  the  damnatic;n 
of  a  foul  ?  l-ay  by  excufcs  then,  and  all  leifer  bufj!iej>, 
and  obey  God's  command,  ''  exhort  one  another  daily, 
while  it  is  called  to-day,  left  any  be  hardened  through 
the  deceitfulnefs  of  fm." 


3.  Let  thy  exhortation  proceed  from  compafficii 
and  love,  and  let  the  manner  of  it  cK'arly  ftiew  the 
perfon  thou  dealeil  with,  that  it  does.  It  is  not  jeer- 
ing, or  fcorning,  or  reproaching  a  man  for  his  fault, 
that  is  a  likely  way  to  work  his  reformation  :  nor  is 
it  the  right  way  to  convert  him  to  God,  to  rail  at 
him,  and  villify  him  with  words  of  difgrace.  Men 
will  take  them  for  their  enem.les  that  thus  deal  with 
them  :  and  the  words  of  an  enemy  are  little  pcrfuad- 
ing.  Lay  by  your  pafhon  therefore,  and  go  to  poor 
linners  Vv^iih  tears  in  your  eyes,  that  they  may  fee  you 
indeed  believe  them  to  b;t  miferablc  ;  and  thatyou  uii' 
xcigneJly  pity  their  cafe  :  deal  with  them  with  earn- 
ed humble  entreatuigs.  Let  them  fee  tXv.x  your  very 
bowels  yearn  over  thejn,  and  that  it  is  the  very  defire 
of  your  hearts  to  do  them  good  :  let  them  perceive 
that  you  have  no  other  end  but  the  procuring  their 
cverlaFting  happincfs  :  and  that  it  is  your  fcnfc  of  their 


!C;CO  Tilt  Sain  18"*  Everlasting  Rest. 


cbnr;er,  nn^^  your  love  to  their  fouls  that  forces  you 
to  fpeak  ;  even  becivile  you  know  ihc  terrors  of  tlie 
L.orcl,  and  for  fetir  \z{\  you  fliould  fee  thtm  \\\  eternal 
tonr.ents.  Say  to  them,  Wi;y,  friend,  you  know  it 
is  no  advantage  of  my  own  that  I  fcek.  The  way  to 
pleafe  you,  and  to  keep  your  friendfliip,  were  to 
fo'»th  you  in  your  o-.vn  way,  or  to  let  you  alone  ;  but 
Icve  will  not  fuffer  me  to  fee  you  perilh,  and  be  fi- 
lent  ;  1  feek  nothin.j  at  your  hands,  but  that  which 
is  neceftiry  to  your  own  happinefs.  It  is  yoiirfelf 
that  will  have  the  gain  and  comfort,  if  you  come  in 
to  Chrlil:.  If  men  would  thus  go  to  every  ignorant 
wicked  neighbour  they  have,  and  thus  deal  v/ith  them, 
O  what  bleffed  fruit  Ihould  we  quickly  fee  ! 

I  am  afliamed  to  hear  fome  lazy  hypocritical 
wretches  revile  their  poor  ignorant  neighbours,  and 
feparate  from  their  company,  and  judge  them  unfit 
for  their  fociety,  before  ever  they  once  tried  them 
with  this  compaffionate  exhortation  I  O  you  little 
know  what  a  prevailing  courfe  this  were  like  to 
prove  !  and  how  few  cf  the  vilefl  drunkards  or  fwear- 
€rs  would  prove  fo  obftinate,  as  wholly  to  reje(ft  or 
defpifc  the  exhortations  of  love  !  I  know  it  muil  be 
God  that  muH;  cliange  men's  hearts  ;  but  I  know  alfo 
that  God  worketh  by  means,  and  wj)en  he  meaneth 
to  prevail  with  men,  he  ufually  fitteth  the  means  ac- 
cordingly, and  fl-irreth  up  men  to  plead  with  them  in 
a  prevailing  way,  and  lb  fetteth  in  with  his  grace, 
and  maketh  it  fuccefsful.  Certainly,  thole  that  have 
tried  can  tell  you  by  experience,  that  there  is  no  way 
fo  prevailing  with  men,  as  the  way  of  compalHon  and 
love.  So  much  of  thcfe  as  they  difcern  in  your  ex- 
hortation, ufually  fo  much  doth  it  fiiccced.  with  their 
hearts  :  and  therefore  I  befeech  tlioie  that  are  faith- 
ful, to  pradlife  this  courfe.  Alas,  we  fee  niofl  pco* 
ple^amongus,  yea,  thofe  that  Avould  fesm  godly,  can- 
not bear  a  reproof  that  cornfs  not  in  meeknefs  and 
love  1  if  there  be  the  kuil  pafTiOR,  or  rciilh  of  diigruce 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  201 

in  it,  they  are  ready  to  fplt  in  your  face.  Yea,  ii' 
you  do  not  fwe,.'ten  yciir  reproof  with  fair  words, 
they  cannot  digeft  it,  but  their  heart  will  raife  up  a- 
gair.ft  you  iuriead  of  a  thankful  fubmiflion  and  a  re- 
formation, O  that  it  were  not  too  evident  that  the 
Pharifee  is  yet  alive  in  the  breafts  of  many  thoufands 
that  feem  reliv>iou3,  even  in  ^nis  one  point  of  bear- 
ing-plain  and  iharp  reproof  1  "  They  bind  heavy  bur- 
dens and  grievous  to  be  borne,  and  lay  them  on  men's 
flioulders  ;  but  they  themfclves  will  not  mo\'e  them  with 
one  of  their  fingers,"  Matt,  xxiii.  4.  So  far  are  they 
from  doing,  in  this,  as  they  would  be  done  by. 

4.  Another  dire£lion  I  would  give  you,  is  this  :  do 
it  wi:h  all  polTible  pbinnefs  and  faithfulntfs.  Do 
not  d?dly  with  men,  and  hide  from  them  their  mifeiy 
or  danger,  or  any  part  of  it.  Do  not  make  their  fins 
lefs  than  they  are  ;  nor  fpeak  of  them  in  extenuating 
language.  Do  not  encourage  them  in  a  falfe  hope, 
no  more  tlian  you  would  difcourage  the  fond  hopes 
of  the  righteous.  If  you  fte  his  cafe  dangerous,  tell 
him  plainly  of  it  :  Neighbour,  I  am  afraid  God  hath 
not  yet  renewed  your  foul  ;  and  that  it  is  yet  a  Aran- 
g-er  to  the  gre?.'.  work  of  regener:iticn  and  fan<5\iiica- 
tion  :  1  doubt  you  are  not  yet  recovered  from  the 
power  of  Satan  to  God,  nor  brought  out  of  the  flate 
of  wrath  which  you  were  born  in,  and  have  lived  in  : 
I  doubt  you  have  not  chofcn  Chrift  above  all,  nor  fet 
ypur  heart  upon  him,  nor  unfeigneclly  taken  him  for 
your  fovereign  Lord.  If  you  had,  fure  you  durtl  not 
io  eafily  difobey  him  :  you  could  not  fo  neglcti  him 
and  his  worflup  in  your  family  and  in  public  :  you 
could  not  fo  eagerly  follow  the  world,  and  talk  of  al- 
mod  nothing  but  the  things  of  this  world,  v/hile  Chrift 
is  feldom  mentioned  by  you.  If  you  were  in  Chrift, 
you  would  become  a  new  creature  :  old  things-  would 
be  palTcd  away,  and  all  things  would  btccme  new  : 
you  would  have  new  thoughts,  and  new  falk,  and  new 
company,  and  nj;w  endeavours,  and  a  new  ccnv^rfa- 


202  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

tion  :  certainly  without  tliefe  you  can  never  be  faved  : 
you  may  think  othewife,  ami  hope  better  as  long  as 
you  will,  but  your  hopes  will  deceive  you,  andperifli 
v/ithyou.  Alas  !  it  is  wot  as  you  will,  nor  as  I  will, 
wlio  fiiall  be  faved,  but  it  is  as  God  will  ;  and  God 
haih  told  us,  that  "  without  holineis  none  fliall  fee  him  : 
and  except  we  be  born  agr.in,  we  cannot  enter  into  his 
kingdom.  And  that  all  that  v/ould  not  jiave  ChriO  to 
rei^-n  over  them,  fliall  be  brought  forth  and  deflroy.cd 
before  him  :"   O  therefore  look  to  your  Hate  in  time. 

Thus  muH:  you  deal  roundly  and  faithfully  with 
men,  if  ever  you  int  d  to  do  them  good.  It  is  not 
hovering  at  adiflancc  in  a  general  difcourfe  that  will 
ferve  the  turn  :  it  is  not  in  CLiring  men's  fouls,  as  in 
curing-  their  bodies,  v;here  tlicy  mufl  not  know  thfeir 
danger,  left  it  fadden  them,  and  hinder  the  cure. 
They  are  here  agents  in  their  own  cure,  and  if  they 
know  not  their  mifery,  they  will  never  bewail  it,  fior 
know  how  much  need  they  have  of  a  Saviour  ;  if  they 
know  not  the  v/orft,  they  will  not  labour  to  prevent 
it  ;  but  will  lit  Hill  or  loiter  till  they  drop  into  per- 
dition, and  will  trifle  out  their  time  till  it  be  too  late  : 
and  therefore  fpeak  to  men,  as  Chrifl:  o  tiic  Ph:'.rifee5, 
till  they  knew  that  he  meant  them.  Deal  plaliily,  or 
you  do  but  deceive  and  dcftroy  then-:. 

5.  And  as  you  muO  do  it  plainly,  fo  iV^o  ferioiiny, 
zealoufly,  and  tfTtclually.  The  exceeding;  ikipidity 
arid  deadncfs  of  men's  hearts  is  fuch,  that  no  other 
deiiling  wilK-rdinarily  work.  You  Uiuflcail  aloud  to 
awake  a  man  in  a  fwoon  or  lethargy.  If  you  fpeak 
to  the  comii'on  fort  cf  men,  of  tlic  evil  (»f  their  fin, 
of  their  need  of  Chrill,  cf  the  danger  of  their  fouls, 
and  of  the  necefTity  of  regeneration,  they  will  wearily 
and  unwillingly  give  you  the  hearing,  and  put  off  all 
with  a  figh,  or  a  few  good  wilncs,  ana  lay,  trofl 
forgive  lis-,  nve  are  all  sinners^  and  there  is  an  end.  IF 
ever  you  will  do  them  good  tkerefore,  you  iijufl  Iharp- 


The  Saints'"  Everlasting  Rest.  203 

en  your  exhortation,  and  fet  it  home,  and  follow  it, 
till  you  have  roulcd  th.tm  up,  and  made  them  begin 
to  look  about  tkem.  Ltt  them  know  that  thou  fneak- 
e(k  not  to  them  of  indifiu-rent  things,  nor  about  chil- 
dren's games,  or  matters  of  a  ft-w  days  or  years  con- 
tinuance, nor  yet  about  matter:^  of  uncertainly,  which 
may  never  come  to  pafs  :  but  it  is  about  the  faring 
and  damning  of  their  fouls  and  bodies  ;  and  whether 
they  ihall  be  bleffed  with  Chrift,  or  tormented  with 
devils,  and  that  for  ever  and  ever  ;  it  Is,  how  to  Rand 
before  God  in  judgn^ent,  and  what  anfwer  to  give, 
and  how  they  are  like  to  fpeed  ;  and  this  judgment 
and  eternal  ftate  they  (lirdl  very  ihortly  fee,  they  are 
almoft  at  it ;  yet  a  few  more  nights  and  days,  and 
they  fliall  be  at  that  laft  day  :  a  fc-w  more  breaths, 
they  have  to  breathe,  and  they  fhall  breathe  their  h^U  ; 
and  then  as  certainly  fliall  they  fee  that  mighty  change, 
as  the  heaven  is  over  their  heads,  and  the  earth  under 
their  feet.  O  labour  to  make  men  know,  that  it  is 
mad  jefting  about  falvation  or  damnation  ;  and  that 
heaven  and  hell  are  not  matters  to  be  played  with  or 
pafTed  over  with  a  few  carelefs  thoughts  I  It  is  moil 
certain  that  one  of  thefe  days  tliou  lualt  be  cither  in 
everlalling,  unchangeable  joy  or  torment  ;  and  doth 
it  not  awake  ihee  ?  Are  there  fo  lew  that  find  the  way 
of  death  ?  Is  it  fo  hard  to  efcape  r  fo  eafy  to  mifcany  ? 
And  that  while  we  fear  nothing,  but  think  all  is  well  ? 
And  yet  you  fit  full  and  tritle  !  Why,  v/hat  do  yen 
.mean  ?  What  do  you  think  on?  The  world  ispufiing 
away:  its  pleafures  are  fiiding  :  its  honors  are  leav- 
ing you  :  its  profits  will  prove  unprofitable  to  you  : 
kta-^en  or  hell  are  a  liitle  before  you  :  God  is  juft, 
and  jealcus  ;  his  thrcatenlngs  are  true  :  the  great  day 
of  his  judgment  will  be  tcirible  ;  your  rime  runs  on: 
your  lives  are  uncertain  :  you  ar-  far  behind  hand  : 
you  have  loitertd  lor.g  :  ycur  cafe  is  dangerous  : 
your  fouls  are  far  gone  im*lin  :  you  are  11  range  to 
God:  you  arc  haidcned  in.  evil  cuitoms :  you  have 
no  affui-ancc  of  comfort  to  &\c\s  :    if  you  die  tc-mor- 


204 

row,  how  unready  are  you  !  And  with  what  terror 
will  your  fouls  go  out  of  your  bodies  1  And  do  you 
yet  loiter  ?  Why,  confider,  God  ftandeth  all  this 
while  waiting  yourleifure:  his  patience  beareth  :  his 
juflice  forbeareth  :  his  mercy  entreateth  you  :  Clirifl: 
ftandeth  ofF>iringyou  his  blood  and  merits:  you  may- 
have  him  freely,  and  life  with  him  :  the  Spirit  is  per- 
fuading :  conicience  is  accufing  and  urging  you  : 
minifters  are  praying  for  you,  and  calling  upon  you: 
Satan  ftands  waiting  when  juftice  will  cut  off  your 
lives,  that  he  may  have  you  :  this  is  your  time  :  now 
or  never.  What  1  had  you  rather  lofe  heaven  than 
your  profits  or  pleafures  ?  Had  you  rather  burn  in  hell, 
than  repent  on  earth  ?  Had  you  rather  howl  and  roar 
there,  than  pray  day  and  night  for  mercy  here  ?  Or 
have  devils  your  tormentors,  than  Chrift  your  gover- 
nor ?  Will  you  renounce  your  part  in  God  and  glory, 
rather  than  renounce  your  fins  ?  Do  you  think  a  holy 
life  too  much  for  heaven  ;  or  too  dear  a  courfe  to  pre- 
vent endlefs  mifery  ?  Oh  friends,  what  do  you  think 
of  thefe  things  ?  God  hath  made  you  men,  and  en- 
dued you  with  reafon  :  do  you  renounce  your  reafon 
where  you  fliould  chiefly  ule  it  ?  In  this  manner  you 
mud  deal  roundly  and  ferioufly  with  men.  Alas  I  it 
is  not  a  few  dull  words  between  jeft  and  earncfl,  be- 
tween fleep  and  waking,  as  it  were,  that  will  waken 
an  ignorant  dead-h,;arted  Tinner.  When  a  dull-hearer, 
and  a  dull  ipeaker  meet  together,  a  dead  heart,  and 
a  dead  exhortation  ;  it  is  unlike  to  have  a  lively  effedt. 
If  a  man  fall  down  in  a  fwoon,  you  will  not  ftand 
trifling  with  hini,  but  lay  hands  on  him  prcfcntly, 
and  fiutch  him  up,  and  rub  him,  and  call  aloud  to 
him:  if  ahoufc  be  on  fire,  you  will  not  in  a  cold  ftrain 
go  tell  your  neighbour  of  it,  or  make  an  oration 
of  the  nature  and  danger  of  fire  ;  but  you  will  runout 
and  cry  fire,  fire  :  matters  of  moment  muft  be  fenouf- 
iy  dealt  with.  To  tell  a  man  of  his  lin  fo  foftly  as 
Klidid  his  fons,  or  reprove  kim  fo  gently  as  Jeholha- 
phat  did  Ahab,  Ltt  not  the  king  say  so,  doth  ufually 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest,  Z05 

as  much  harm  as  good.  I  am  peiTuaded  the  very  man- 
ner of  fome  men's  reproof  and  exhortation,  hath  hard- 
ened many  a  fmner  in  the  -way  of  deftruclion.  To 
tell  them  of  fin,  or  of  heaven  or  hell,  in  a  dull,  eafy, 
carelefs  language,  doth  make  men  think  you  are  not 
in  good  earned  ;  butfcarce  think  yourfelvesfuch  tiling* 
Jire'jtruc.  O,  firs,  deal  with  fin  as  fin,  and  fpeak  of  hea- 
ven and  hell  as  they  are,  and  not  as  if  you  were  in  jeft. 
1  coniefs  I  have  failed  much  in  this  myfelf,  the  Lord 
lay  it  not  to  my  charge  \  Lothnefs  to  difpleafe  men, 
makes  us  undo  them. 

6.  Yet  left  you  run  into  extremes,  I  advlfe  you  to 
do  it  with  difcretion.  B,e  as  ferious  as  you  can;  but 
yet  with  wlfdom.  And  efpecially  you  muft  be  wife 
in  thefe  things  following: 

1.  In  choofing  the  fitteft  feafon  for  your  exhortati- 
on ;  not  to  deal  with  men  when  they  are  in  a  paffion, 
or  where  theywill  take  it  for  adifgrace.  Men  fhould 
obierve,  when  finners  are  fitted  to  hear  inftru(5lioHs, 
Phyfic  muft  not  be  given  at  all  tiwies,  but  in  feafon. 
It  is  an  excellent  example  that  Paulgiveth  us.  Gal.  ii.  2. 
He  communicated  the  gofpel  to  them,  yet  privately 
to  them  of  reputation,  left  he  fliould  run  in  vain. 
Some  men  would  take  this  to  be  a  finiul  complying 
with  their  corruption,  to  yield  fo  far  to  their  pride 
and  bafhfulnefs,  as  to  teach  theni  only  in  private,  bc- 
cauie  they  would  be  Jiftiamedto  own  the  truth  in  pub- 
lic :  but  Paul  knew  how  great  ahinderance  men'*  re- 
putation is  to  theirentertaining  of  the  truth,  and  that 
the  remedy  muft  not  only  be  fitted  to  the  diieafe,  but 
alfo  to  the  ftrength  of  the  patient,  and  that  in  fo  do- 
ing, the  phyfician  is  not  guilty  of  favouring  the 
difeafe,  but  is  praife-worthy  for  taking  the  right  way 
to  cure.  Means  will  work  e^.ftly  if  you  take  the  op- 
portunity ;  when  the  earth  is  foft,  the  plough  will  en- 
ter.    Take  a  man  when  he  is  under  aiiiidlion,  or  ia 

S 


206  The  Salntfp  Everlasting  Rest, 

the  houfe  of  mourning,  or  newly  jRirred  by  feme  mov- 
ing fermon,  and  then  fet  it  home,  and  you  may  do 
him  fome  good.  Chriftian  faithfulnefs  doth  require 
us,  not  only  to  do  good  when  it  falls  in  our  way,  but 
to  watch  for  opportunities. 

2.  Be  wife  alfo  in  fuiting  your  exhortation  to  the 
quality  and  temper  of  the  peribn.  All  meats  are  not 
for  all  ftomachs  ;  one  man  will  vomit  that  up  which 
another  will  digefl.  1.  If  it  be  a  learned,  or  ingeni- 
ous rational  man,  you  mud  deal  more  by  convincing 
arguments  and  lefs  by  pallionate  perfuafions.  2.  If 
it  he  one  that  is  both  ignorant  and  ftupid,  there  is 
need  of  both.  3.  If  one  that  is  convinced,  but  not 
converted,  you  muft  ufe  moft  thofe  means  that  roufe 
the  affcAions.  4.  If  they  be  obftlnate  and  fecure,  you 
muft  reprove  them  (harply.  5.  If  they  be  of  timorous, 
tender  natures,  they  muil:  be  tenderly  dealt  with.  All 
cannat  bear  that  rough  dealing^-  that  fome  can.  Love 
and  plainnefs,  andferioufnefs,  take  with  all  j  but  words 
of  terror  fome  can  fcarce  bear. 

S.  You  muft  be  "wife  alfo  in  ufingthe  apteft  expref- 
fions.  Many  a  minifter  doth  deliver  molt  excellent 
matter  in  fuch  harfh  and  unfeeming  language,  that  it 
makes  the  hearers  loathe  the  food  that  they  Ihould  live 
byj  and  laugh  at  a  fermon  that  might  make  them 
quake  :  efpecially  if  they  be  men  of  curious  ears,  and 
carnal  hearts,  and  hav^  more  wit  and  parts  than  the 
fpeaker.  And  fo  it  is  in  private  exhortation  as  well  as 
public:  if  you  clothe  the  moft  amiable  truth  in  the 
fordid  rags  of  unbefeeming  language,  you  will  make 
men  dlfdain  it,  though  it  be  the  offspring  of  God, 
and  of  the  higheft  nature. 

4.  Let  all  your  reproofs  and  exhortations  be  backed 
with  the  authority  of  God.  Let  the  finner  be  con- 
vinced that  you  fpeak  not  from  yourfelvrs  or  of  your 
own  head.  Shew  them  the  very  words  of  fcripture  for 


The  Suints'  Everlasting  Rest.  207 

what  you  ffiy  :  prefs  them  with  .the  truth  and  author- 
ity of  God  :  allc  them,  Whether  they  believe  that 
this  is  his  word,  and  that  his  word  is  true.  So  much 
of  God  as  appeareth  in  our  words,  fo  much  will  they 
take.  The  voice  of  man  is  contemptible  :  but  the 
voice  of  God  is  awful  and  terrible.  Be  fure  therefore 
to  make  them  know,  that  you  fpeak  nothing  but  what 
God  hath  fpokcn  firrt. 

5.  You  miifl.  alfo  be  frequent  with  men  in  this  du- 
ty of  exhortation  ;  it  is  not  ince  or  twice  that  ufualfy 
will  prevail.  If  God  hinifelf  murt  be  condantly  Ib- 
licited,  as  if  importunity  could  prevail  with  him  when 
nothing  elfe  can  ;  and  therefore  requires  us  always  t» 
pray  end  not  to  faint ;  the  fdme  courfe,  no  doubt, 
will  be  mod  prevailing'  with  men.  Therefore  t/e 
arc  commanded,  "  to  exhort  one  another  daily,  and. 
with  alllong-fufFeruig  :"  the  fire  is  not  always  brought 
out  of  the  flint  at  one  ftroke  :  nor  men's  affedioni 
kindled  at  the  firfl  exhortation.  And  if  they  were,  yet 
if  they  be  not  followed,  they  will  fccn  grow  cold  a- 
gain.  Weary  out  finners  -with  your  loving  and  earneft 
entreaties  ;  follow  them  and  gi\.'  them  no  reil  in  their 
fin.  This  is  true  charity,  and  this  is  tlie  way  to  favfe 
men's  fouls  ;  and  a  courfe  that  will  afford  you  com- 
fort upon  a  review. 

6.  Strive  to  bring  all  your  exhortations  to  an  iffue  : 
flick  not  in  the  work  done,  but  look  after  the  fuccefs. 
I  have  long  oblerved  it  in  minifters  and  private  mer., 
that  if  they  fpeak  never  fo  convincing  words,  and  yet 
all  their  care  is  over  when  they  have  done  tt^.eir  fpeech, 
pretending  that  having  done  their  duty,  they  leave  the 
ilTue  to  God:  thefe  men  feldom  profper  in  their  la- 
bours :  but  thofe  whofe  very  heart  is  fet  upon  the 
work,  and  that  long  to  fee  it  take  for  the  hearers  cbn- 
verfion,  and  ufe  to  enquire  how^  it  fpeeds,  God  ufual- 
ly  blelTcth  their  labours,  though  more  weak.  Labour 
therefore  to  drive  all  your  fpcechcs  to  the  ddired  ilme. 


208  The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest, 

If  you  are  reproving  fin,  ceafe  not  till  (if  it  may  be) 
you  have  got  the  finner  to  promife  you  to  have  it, 
and  to  avoid  the  occafions  ■  f  it  :  if  you  are  exhorting 
to  a  duty,  urge  the  party  to  promife  you  prelcntly  to 
fetupcn  it.  If  you  would  draw  them  to  Cluift,  leave 
them  not,  till  you  have  made  them  confers  that  thtir  pre- 
fent  ftate  is  miferable,  and  not  to  be  refted  in  :  and 
till  they  have  fubfcribed  to  the  neceffity  of  a  change  ; 
and  promifed  you  to  fall  clofc  to  the  ufe  of  means. 
O  that  all  chriftian?  would  be  perfuaded  to  take  this 
courfe  with  all  their  neighbours  that  are  yet  euflaved 
to  fin,  and  ftrangers  to  ChriA  1 

7.  LaPcly,  Be  fure  your  example  exhort  as  well  as 
your  words.  Let  them  fee  you  confiant  in  all  the 
duties  you  pevfuade  them  to  :  kt  them  fee  in  your 
lives  that  excellency  above  the  world,  which  you  per- 
fuade  them  to  in  your  fpeeches.  Let  them  fee  by  your 
conftant  labours  for  heaven,  that  you  indeed  believe 
what  you  would  have  them  believe. 

And  thus  I  have  opened  to  you  the  firft  and  great 
part  of  this  duty,  confifting  in  private  exhortation, 
for  the  helping  of  poor  fouls  to  this  reft,  that  have  yet 
BO  title  to  it  ;  and  I  have  fliewed  you  alfothe  manner 
how  to  perform  it.  1  will  now  fpeak  a  little  of  the 
»ext  part. 

1.  Befides  the  duty  of  private  admonition,  you  mu{\ 
do  your  utmoft  endeavours  to  help  men  to  profit  by  the 
public  ordinances.  And  to  that  end,  Firft,  do  your 
endeavours  for  the  procuring  of  faichful  minifters  where 
they  are  wanting.  This  is  God's  ordinary  means  ct" 
converting  and  faving,  IJoiv  shall  they  hear  without  a 
preachgr  ?  Not  only  for  your  own  fakes  therefore,  but 
for  the  poor  miferable  ones  about  you,  do  all  you  can 
to  bring  this  to  pafs.  L-nprove  all  your  intereft  and 
diligence  to  this  end.  Ride,  and,  go,  and  fcek,  and 
Kiake  friend*,    till  you  prevail.     Who    Unoweth  hc\f 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  20!J 

many  fouls  may  bids  you,  who  have  been  converted 
by  the  miiiiftry  which  you  have  procured  ?  It  is  an 
higher  and  nobler  v/ork  of  charity,  than  if  you  give 
all  that  you  have  to  relieve  their  bodies. 

How  fmall  a  matter  were  it  (and  yet  how  excellent 
a  work)  for  every  gentleman  of  means  or  fortune,  to 
cull  out  fome  one  or  two,  or  more  poor  boys  in  tli 
country  fchooh,  who  are  the  choiceft  wits,  and  of  the 
moft  pions  difpofitions,  who  are  poor  and  unable  to 
proceed  in  learning  :  and  to  maintain  them  till  they 
are  fit  for  the  miniftry  ?  It  were  but  keeping  a  few 
fuperfluous  attendants  the  lefs,  if  they  had  hearts  to 
it,  it  were  eafily  fpared  out  of  their  rich  apparel,  or 
fuperfluous  diet  ;  I  dare  fay,  they  would  not  be  foiry 
for  it  when  they  come  to  their  reckoning  :  one  fump- 
tuous  feaft,  or  one  coftly  fuit  of  apparel,  would  main- 
tain a  poor  boy  a  year  or  two  at  the  univerfity,  who 
perhaps  might  come  to  have  more  true  worth  in  him, 
than  many  a  glittering  lord,  and  to  do  God  more  fer- 
vice  in  his  church,  then  ever  they  did  with  all  their 
cflates  and  power. 

2.  And  when  you  enjoy  the  blefTing  of  the  gofpel, 
you  mufl  yet  ufe  your  utmoft  diligence  to  help  poor 
fouls  to  receive  the  fruit  of  it.  To  which  end  you 
mufl  draw  them  confiantly  to  hear  and  attend  it  : 
mind  them  often  of  what  they  have  heard  :  draw  them 
if  it  be  poflible,  to  repeat  it  in  their  families  ;  if  that 
cannot  be,  then  draw  them  to  come  to  others  that  do 
repeat  it  ;  that  fo  it  may  not  die  in  the  hearing.  The 
very  drawing  of  men  into  the  company  and  acquaint- 
ance of  the  good  man,  befides  tlie  benefit  they  have 
by  their  endeavours,  is  of  iingular  ufe  to  the  recove- 
ry of  their  fouls.  It  is  a  means  to  take  off  prejudice, 
by  confuting  the  world's  flanders  of  the  ways  and 
people  of  God.  Ufe  therefore  often  to  meet  toge- 
ther, befides  the  more  public  meeting  in  the  congrc-^ 
b  2 


210  The  Salnta^  Everlasting  Rest, 

gallon  :  not  to  vent  ar.y  unfound  opinions,  nor  at  tl.c 
time  of  public  worfhip  ;  nor  yet  to  fepr.rate  froin  the 
cluircb  whereof  you  are  members  ;  but  the  work  \\hich 
I  would  have  you  meet  about,  is  this,  to  repeat  toge- 
ther the  word  which  you  have  heard  in  public  ;  to 
pour  out  your  joiLt  prayers  for  the  church  and  your- 
felves  ;  to  join  in  cheerful  Tinging  the  praifes  of  God  j 
to  open  your  fciuples  and  doubts,  and  fears,  and  get 
refulution  ;  to  quicken  each  other  in  love  and  lieavtn- 
llnefs,  or  holy  walking  :  and  all  this  not  as  a  fepa- 
rated  church,  but  as  a  part  of  the  church  more  d:li- 
gent  than  the  reft  in  redeeming  time,  and  helping  thc< 
fouls  of  each  other  heaven-ward. 

3.  One  thing  more  I  advifc  you  ;  if  you  would 
have  fouls  faveJ  by  the  ordinances,  labour  ftill  to  keep 
the  ordinances  and  miniflry  in  efleem.  No  man  will 
be  much  wrought  on  by  that  which  he  defpifeth.  I 
fliall  confirm  you  herein,  not  in  my  own  words,  but 
in  his  that  I  know  you  dare  not  difregard,  1  Thef.  v. 
1  1,  12,  13.  "  Wherefore  comfort  yourfeves  together, 
and  edify  one  another,  even  as  ye  alfo  do  :  and  we  be- 
feech  you  brethren  to  know  them  which  labour  among 
you,  and  are  over  you  in  the  Lord,  and  admonifli  you, 
and  to  efteem  them  very  highly  in  love  for  their  work's 
fake  ;  and  be  at  peace  among  yourfelves-  Obey  them 
that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and  fubmit  yourfelves  ; 
for  they  watch  for  your  fouls,  as  thofe  that  mull:  give 
an  account,  that  they  m?.y  do  it  with  joy  and  not  with 
grief:  for  that  is  unprofuable  iorycu,"  Heb.  xiii.  17. 

Thus  you  fee  part  of  your  duty  for  the  falvati  on 
«f  others. 

But  vvhere  fhall  we  find  the  man,  that  fetteth  hiip- 
felf  to  it  with  all  his  snight,  and  that  hath  fet  his 
heart  upon  the  fouls  of  his  i)rethren,  that  they  may  be 
i^ved  ? 


The  SainU^  Everlasting   Rest.  «11 

Let  us  here  a  little  enquire,  what  may  be  the  caufcs 
©f  the  gvois  ncglevH:  of  this  duty,  tha':  the  iilnderari- 
ccs  being  diicovtied,  may  the  more  eafily  be  over- 
cO'iiie. 

1.  One  hinderancc,  b,  men's  own  linfu'nefs  and 
guiltinefo.  They  have  not  been  raviflied  themfelves 
with  tiie  heavenly  delights  :  how  then  ftiould  they 
draw  others  to  leek  them  ?  They  have  not  ft  It  the 
Avickednefs  of  their  own  nature,  nor  their  left  con^ 
dition,  nor  their  need  of  Chrift,  nor  felt  the  renew- 
ing work  of  the  Spirit  :  how  then  can' they  difcover 
thele  to  others  ?  Ah  that  this  were  not  the  cafe  of 
many  a  learned  prcaclier  amongft  us  !  And  the  c;-;ul's 
why  they  preach  fo  fiozenly  1  Men  alio  are  guilty 
themfelves  of  the  fins  they  fhould  reprove:  and  this 
flops  their  mouths,  and  maketh  them  afhamed  to  re- 
prove. 

2.  Another  hlndcrance,  is,  a  fecret  infid-elity  pre- 
vailing in  men's  hearts  :  Alas,  firs,  we  do  net  furc 
believe  men's  mifery  ;  we  do  not  believe  fure  the 
threatnings  of  God  are  true.  Did  we  verily  believe 
that  all  the  unregenerate  and  unholy  fhall  be  eternally 
tormented,  oh  how  could  we  hold  our  tongues  when 
we  are  among  the  unregenerate  :  how  could  we  choofe 
but  burft  out  into  tears  when  we  look  them  in  th^ 
face,  as  the  prophet  did  when  he  looked  upon  Haza- 
el  ?  Efpecially  when  they  are  our  kindred  or  friends 
that  are  near  and  dear  to  us  ?  Thus  doth  fecret  unbe- 
lief confume  the  vigour  of  each  grace  and  duty.  Oh 
chriftians,  if  you  did  verily  believe  that  your  poor 
neighbour,  ©r  wife  or  hufband,  or  child,  fhould  cer- 
tainly lie  f?)r  ever  in  the  flames  of  hell,  excep-:  thty 
be  thoroughly  changed,  before  death  doth  fnatcli  them 
hence,  would  not  this  make  you  cafl  off  all  difcou- 
rageraento,  and  lay  at  them  day  and  night  till  they 
were  pcrfuadcd  ?  How  could  you  hold  your  tongue, 
•r  let  them  alone  another  day,  if  this  were  fouiidly  be« 


212  The  SainU''  Everlasting-  Rent, 

ricv?d?  If  you  were  fLii'ethcit  any  of  your  dear  fritnus 
that  arc  dead,  were  now  iii  hell,  and  pcrfuading  to 
repentance  would  get  bin?  out  again,  would  not  you 
pjrfuade  him  day  and  night  If  he  were  in  hearing  ? 
And  why  fliould  you  not  do  as  much  then  to  prevent 
it,  while  he  is  in  your  hearing,  but  thdc  you  do  not 
believe  God's  word  that  fpeaks  the  danger  ?  Oh  were 
it  not  for  this  curfed  unbelief,  our  own  fouls  and  our 
neighbour's  would  gain  more  by  us  than  they  do. 

3.  This  faithful  dealing  with  men  for  their  falva- 
tlon,  is  much  hindered  alfo  by  our  want  of  compaffion 
to  men's  fouls.  We  are  hard-hearted  and  cruel  to- 
ward the  miferable  ;  and  therefore  (as  the  priefl  and 
the  Levite  did  by  the  wounded  man)  we  look  on  them 
and  pafs  by.  O  what  tender  hearts  could  endure  to 
look  upon  a  poor,  blind,  forlorn  finner,  wounded  by 
iin  and  captivated  by  Satan,  and  never  once  open  their 
mouths  for  his  recovery  1  What  though  he  be  filent, 
and  do  not  defire  thy  help  ?  yet  his  mifery  cries  aloud  ; 
mifery  is  the  moft  cfFedlual  fuiter  to  one  that  is  com- 
paffionate  ;  if  God  had  not  heard  the  cry  of  our  mife- 
ries  before  he  heard  the  cry  of  our  prayers,  and  been 
moved  by  his  own  pity,  before  he  was  moved  by  our 
importunity,  we  might  have  long  enough  continued 
the  flaves  of  Satan.  Alas,  what  pitiful  fights  do  we 
daily  fee  !  The  ignorant,  the  profane,  the  neglefters 
of  Chrifi:  and  their  fouls  ;  their  fores  are  open  and  vifi- 
ble  to  all  :  and  yet  we  do  not  pity  them.  You  will 
pray  to  God  for  them,  in  cuftomary  duties,  that  God 
would  open  the  eyes,  and  turn  the  hearts  of  your 
friends  and  neighbours  ;  and  why  do  you  not  endea- 
vour their  converfion,  if  you  defire  it  ?  and  if  you 
do  not  defire  it,  why  do  you  afk  it  ?  Doth  not  your 
negligence  convince  you  of  hypocrify  in  your  prayers, 
and  ofabufing  the  mofi:  high  God  with  your  deceit- 
ful words  ?■  Your  neighbours  are  near  you,  your 
friends  are  in  the  houie  with  you,  yoH  eat  and  drink, 
and  work,  and  walk,  'cwi  talk  with  them,  and  yet  you 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  213 

fay  little  or  nothing  to  thein.  V/hy  do  yon  not  pray 
them  to  confiJer  and  return,  as  well  as  pray  God  to 
convert  and  turn  them  ?  Have  you  as  oft  begged  of 
them  to  think  on  their  ways,  and  to  reform,  as  you 
have  taken  on  you  to  beg  of  God  that  they  may  fo 
do  ?  What  if  you  fliould  fee  your  neighbour  fallen 
into  a  pit,  and  you  fhould  prcfently  fall  down  f>n 
your  knees,  and  pray  God  to  help  him  out,  but  would 
neither  put  forth  your  hand  to  help  him,  nor  once 
perfuadc  or  dlrcd\  him  to  help  himfelf,  would  not  ariv 
man  cenfureyou  to  be  cruel  and  hypocritical  ?  What  the 
Holy  Ghoft  faith  of  men's  bodily  mif^ries,  I  may  fay 
much  more  of  the  mifery  of  their  fouls  ;  If  any  man 
seeth  his  brofhtr  in  neecU  and  sJiutteth  up  his  compas" 
s ion  from  him-f  honv  dvjelleih  theloveofG'-'dinhim  ? 
Or  what  love  hath  he  to  iiis  brother's  foul  ?  The  cha- 
rity of  our  ignorant  fore-fathers  may  rife  up  in  judg- 
ment agalnft  us,  and  condemn  us  :  they  v/ould  give  all 
tiieir  cflates  almod,  for  fo  many  malTes  or  pardons, 
to  deliver  the  fouls  oi  their  friends  from  a  feigned 
purgatory  :  and  we  will  not  as  much  as  adtnonifh  and 
entreat  them,  to  fave  thcra  from  the  certain  ilap.:i£s  of 
helL 

3.  Another  hinderancr,  is,  a  bafe  man-pleafing  dlf- 
pofition  that  is  in  us.  We  are  ^o  loth  to  difpleafc 
me:i,  and  fo  defirous  to  keep  in  credit  and  favour 
with  them,  that  it  makes  us  negleft  our  own  duty. 
A  foollfh  phyfician  he  is,  and  a  n:o(l  unfaithful  friend, 
that  r.  ill  kt  a  fick  man  die  for  fear  of  troubling  him. 
And  cruel  wretches  are  v.'e  to  our  friends  that  will 
rather  fuiTer  them  to  go  quickly  to  hell,  than  we  will 
anger  them,  or  hazard  our  reputation  with  them.  If 
they  did  but  fall  in  a  1  woon,  we  would  rub  them  and 
pinch  them,  and  never  flick  at  hurting  them.  If  they 
were  diftradied  we  would  bind  them  with  ch?.ins, 
and  we  would  pleafe  them  in  nothing  that  tended  to 
their  hurt.  And  yet  when  they  are  befide  themfcivci 
in   point  of  falvation,  and   iii    their   iijadaefs  poRiuir 


214  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest. 

on  to  damnation,  we  will  rot  flop  them  for  fear  of 
difplcafing  theai.  "  How  can  thofe  men  be  chriftians, 
that  love  the  praife  and  favour  of  men,  more  than  the 
favour  of  God  ?"  John  xii.  43.  *'  For  if  tkey  yet  feek 
to  pleafemen,  they  are  no  longer  thefervantsof  Chrifl," 
Gal.  i.  10.  To  win  them  indeed  they  mufl  become 
all  things  to  all  men  :  but  to  pleafe  them  to  their  de- 
ftruc\ion,  and  let  them  peridi,  that  we  may  keep 
our  credit  with  them,  is  a  courfe  fo  bafe  and  barbd- 
roufly  cruel,  that  he  that  hath  the  face  of  a  chriilian 
Ihould  abhor  it. 

5.  Another  common  hindc-rance,  is,  a  finful  bafli- 
fnlnefs.  When  we  fliould  labour  to  make  men  afham- 
cd  of  their  fins,  we  are  ourfelves  afliamed  of  our  du- 
ties. May  not  thefe  finners  condemn  us,  wl>en  they 
will  not  blufh  to  fwear  or  be  drunk,  and  we  bluih  to" 
tell  them  of  it,  and  perfuade  them  from  it  ?  Sinners 
will  boaft  of  their  fms,  and  fhew  them  in  the  open 
ftreets  :  and  (hall  not  we  be  as  bold  in  drawing  thcni 
from  fin  ?  Not  that  I  would  have  inferiors  forget 
their  diftance  in  admoniOnng  their  fuperiors  ;■  but  do 
it  with  all  humility,  and  fubinifTion,  and  refpecl;.  But 
yet  I  would  much  lefs  have  them  forget  their  duty  to 
God  and  their  fri-^nds  be  they  never  fo  much  their 
fuperiors  :  it  is  a  thing  that  mod  be  done.  BaPnFul- 
nefs  is  ur.ftemly  in  cafes  of  flat  Heceinty.  And  in- 
deed it  is  not  a  work  to  be  aPn  amed  of  ;  to  obey  God 
in  periundin -•■  men  from  their  fins  to  Chrlft,  and  help- 
in-.C  to  fave  their  fouls,  is  not  a  buiinefs  for  a  man  to 
h'.iiih  at.  Yet,  alas,  what  abundajice  of  fouls  have 
bciU  n:;/lecled  throu2-h  the  prevaiiln^r  of  this  fiii  ! 
Even  the  moft  of  us  arc  beinoufly  guilty  in  this  point. 
Reader  !  is  not  this  tbyov/n  cafe  ?  Hath  notthy  con- 
fcirnce  told  thee  of  thy  duty  many  a  time,  and  put 
thee  on  to  fpcak  to  poor  linners,  left  they  perilh  ? 
And  yet  thou  haft  i)et.n  afliamed  to  op-^n  thy  month 
to  them,  and  fo  let  th-fm  alone  to  fink  or  fwirn  ;  be- 
lieve me  thou  wilt  crc  \onR  be  aPiiamcd  of  this  fijamc  : 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest,  215 

0  read  thofe  worcU  of  Chrifl  and  tremble  ;  "  He  t!  a^. 
is  afliamed  of  me  and  my  -w^rds,  before  this  adulccrour* 
generation,  of  him  will  the  Son  of  Man  be  aduimrd 
before  his  Father  and  the  angels.'* 

6.  With  many  alfo  pride  is  a  grpat  impediment. 
If  it  were  to  fpealc  to  a  great  man,  they  would  do  it, 
fo  it  wovdd  not  difpleafc  him.  But  to  go  among  a 
company  of  ignorant  beggars,  or  mean  perfons,  and 
to  fit  with  them  in  a  fmoaky  nafly  cottage,  and  there 
*o  exhort  them  from  day  to  day  ;  where  is  the  perfon 
that  will  do  it?  l^any  will  much  rejoice  if  they  have 
been  inllruments  of  converting  a  gentleman  (and  they 
have  good  caufe)  but  for  the  common  multitude,  they 
look  not  after  them  :  ai  if  God  were  a  refpecler  of 
the  perfons  of  the  rich,  or  the  fouls  of  all  were  not 
alike  to  him.  Alas,  thefe  men  little  confider  ho\r 
low  Chrifl  did  ftoop  to  us  !  When  the  God  of  glory 
comes  down  in  flefh  to  worms,  and  goeth  preaching 
up  and  down  among  them  from  city  to  city.  Not  the 
fiHieft  women  that  he  thoughttoo  low  to  confer  with  : 
few  rich,  and  noble,  and  wife  are  called.  It  is  the 
poor  that  receive  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel. 

Obje£l.  O  but,  faith  one,  I  am  of  fo  weak  parts,  that 

1  am  unable  to  manage  an  exhortation  ;  efpccially  to 
men  of  ftrong  parts  and  underftanding. 

I  answer,  1.  Set  thofe  upon  the  work  who  are 
more  able.  2.  Yet  do  not  think  that  thou  art  so  ex- 
*cuf«d  thyfelf,  but  ufe  faithfully  that  ability  which 
thou  haft  ;  not  in  teaching  thofe  of  whom  thou  (houldft 
learn,  but  in  inftru<f\ing  thole  that  are  more  ignorant 
than  thyfelf,  and  in  exhorting  thofe  that  are  negli- 
gent in  the  things  which  they  do  know.  If  yoM  can- 
rot  fpeak  well  yourfelf,  yet  you  can  tell  them  what 
God  fpeaketh  in  his  word.  It  is  not  the  excellency 
of  fpeech  that  winneth  the  fouls  ;  but  the  authority 
of  God  manifefted  by  that   fpeech,  and  the  power  of 


216  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

bis  word  in  the  mouth  of  the  inftruclor.  A  "vveak  v/o- 
man  may  lell  what  God  faith  in  the  plain  pafTages  of 
the  word,  as  well  as  a  learned  man.  If  yen  cannot 
preach  to  them,  yet  you  can  fay,  Thus  it  is  written. 
One  of  mean  parts  may  remember  the  wifcft  of  their 
duly,  when  they  forget  it. 

ObjrtSl.  It  is  my  fuperior  :  and  is  it  fit  for  me  to 
teach  or  reprove  my  betters  ?  MuQ  the  wife  teach  the 
hiifband,  of  whom  the  fcripture  biddeth  them  to  learn? 
Or  mufl  children  teach  the  parents,  whofe  duty  it  is 
to  teach  them? 

I  ansiver^  1 .  It  is  fit  that  hufbands  fliould  be  able  to 
teach  their  wives,  and  parents  to  teach  their  children  ; 
and  God  expe£leth  they  fhould  be  lb,  and  therefore 
commandeth  the  inferiors  to  learn  of  them.  But  if 
they  through  their  negligence  difable  themfelvcs,  or 
through  their  wickednefs  bring  their  fouls  into  fuch 
mifery,  then  it  is  themfelves,  and  not  you,  that  break 
God's  order,  by  bringing  themfelves  into  difability 
and  miftiy. 

Matter  of  mere  orders  and  manners  mufl  be  difpen- 
fed  with  in  cafes  of  Hat  neccflity.  Though  it  were 
your  minifter,  you  muft  teach  him  in  fuch  a  cafe.  It 
is  the  part  of  parents  to  provide  for  their  children,  and 
not  children  for  their  parents  :  and  yet  if  the  parents 
fall  into  want,  muft  not  the  children  relieve  them  ? 
It  IS  the  part  of  tlie  huA)and  to  difpofc  of  the  affairs  of 
the  family  and  eftate  :  and  yet  if  he  be  fick  or  befide 
himfclf,  mult  not  the  wife  do  it  ?  The  rich  fliould 
relieve  the  poor  :  but  if  the  rich  fall  into  beggary, 
they  muft  be  relieved  themfelves.  It  is  the  work  of  a 
phylician  to  look  to  the  health  of  others  :  and,  yet 
if  he  fail  hck,  fome  body  muft  help  him.  So  muft 
the  meancft  fervant  admonilh  his  mailer,  and  the  child 
his  parent,  and  the  wife  her  l.uiband,  and  the  people 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Re&t.  21  r 

their  minifters,  in  cafes    of  necciTity.      Yet  fecondlj-, 
\?t  me  give  you  ihefe  two  cautions  here. 

1.  That  you  do  not  pretend  neceflity  -vvhcn  there  is 
none,  out  of  :i  mere  delire  of  teaching.  There  is  fcarcc 
a  more  cert^nin  dilcovery  of  a  proud  heart,  than  to  be 
more  defirous  to  teach,  than  to  learn  ;  efpecially  to- 
ward thofe  tiiat  are  iitter  to  teach  us. 

2.  And  when  the  necefilty  of  your  fuperloi-s  doth 
call  for  your  advice,  yet  do  it  with  all  pofTible  humi- 
lity, modeHy,  and  mecknefs.  Let  them  difcern  your 
reverence  and  fubmifiion  in  the  bucible  manner  of  your 
addrefTes  to  them.  Let  them  perceive  that  you  do  it 
not  ouc  of  a  mere  teaching  humour,  or  proud  felf-con- 
ceitednefs.  If  a  v.'ife  fiiould  tell  IierhufDand  of  fin  in 
a  mallerly  railing  manner;  or  if  a  fcrvant  reprove 
]iis  m?.fler,  or  a  child  his  father  in  a  faucy  -way,  Avhat 
good  could  be  cxpecTted  from  fucli  reproof?  But  if 
they  fiiould  meeicly  and  humbly  open  to  him  hi?  fin 
and  danger,  and  entreat  him  to  bear  \vit!i  tliem  in  v>  hat 
God  coiumandeth,  and  if  they  could  by  tears  tellify 
their  fenfe  of  his  cafe  :  what  father,  cr  mallerj  or  huf- 
band  could  take  this  ill  ? 

Object.  But  fome  may  fry,  tliis  will  make  all  as 
preachers,  and  caufe  all  to  break  over  tlie  bounds  of 
their  callings. 


I  answer^  1.  This  is  not  taking  a  paftoral  charge 
of  fouls,  nor  making  an  office  cr  calling  of  it,  as 
preachers  do. 

2.  And  in  the  way  of  our  callings,  every  good 
chnftian  is  a  teacher,  and  hath  a  charge  of  his  neigh- 
bour's foul.  Let  it  be  only  the  voice  of  a  Cain  to  lay. 
Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ?  I  would  one  of  thefe  men, 
that  arc  'io  loth  that  private  mea  fhouU  teach  thcia, 
T 


218  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  J^cst. 


ftreets  thcugh  it  be  your  father  or  fiiperior,  "vvoiild 
you  not  take  him  up  prefently,  and  ule  all  means  to 
recover  bim  ?  Or  wculd  you  let  bim  lie  and  die,  and 
fay,  it  is  the  work  of  the  phyfician,  and  not  mine  :  I 
Avill  not  invade  the  phyfician's  calling.  In  two  cafes 
every  man  is  n  phyfician  ;  firft,  in  cafe  of  neceflity, 
and  when  a  phyfician  cannot  be  had  :  and  feccndly,  in 
cafe  the  hurt  be  fo  fmall,  that  every  man  can  do  as 
well  as  the  phyfician.  Ami  in  the  fame  t\ro  cafes 
every  man  mull  be  a  teacher. 

Obje6l.  Some  v/ill  further  objecfi:,  to  put  off  this  du- 
ty, that  the  party  is  fo  ignorant,  or  ftupid,  or  careltfs, 
or  rooted  in  fin,  and  hath  been  fo  ofl  exhorted  in  vain, 
that  there  is  no  hope. 

I  ansivcr^  How  know  yon  when  there  is  no  hope  ? 
Cannot  God  yet  cure  him  ?  And  have  net  many  as 
far  gone  been  cured  ?  Should  not  a  merciful  ph)ficiaii 
nfc  means  while  there  is  life  ?  and  is  it  not  inhuman 
cruelty  in  you  to  give  np  yonr  friend  to  the  devil  as 
hopelefs,  upon  mere  backwardnefs  to  your  duty,  or 
upon  groundlels  difcouragemcnts  ?  What  if  you  had 
been  fo  given  up  yourfelf  when  you  were  ignorant  ? 

Objed.  '*  But  wc  muft  not  caft  pearls  before  fwine, 
nor  give  that  which  is  holy  to  dogs." 

7  answer^  That  is  but  a  favourable  difpenfation  of 
Chrift  for  your  owniafety.  When  ycu  are  in  danger 
of  being  torn  in  pieces,  Chrift  would  have  you  for- 
bear ;  but  what  is  that  to  yoti  that  are  in  no  fuch 
danger  ?  As  long  as  they  will  hear,  you  have  encou- 
ragement to  fpeak,  and  may  not  caft  them  off  as  con- 
temptuous f\tinc. 


The  Sain ts^  Everlasting  Rest,  2 1 9 

Object.  O  but  it  is  a  friend  that  I  have  all  my  de- 
pendence on  ;  and  by  telling  him  of  \\h  luiand  iniieiy, 
1  may  lofc  his  love,  and  lb  be  undone. 

/  nnswc)\  Sure  no  man  that  hadi  the  face  cf  a 
chriilian,  will  for  flnme  own  Inch  an  objcdlon  as 
this.  Yet,  I  doubt,  it  oft  prevaileth  in  the  heart. 
Is  his  love  more  to  be  valutrd  than  his  fafcty  ?  Or  thy 
own  benetit  by  him,  than  the  fiilvation  of  his  foul  ? 
Or  wilt  thou  connive  at  his  damnation,  becaufc  he  is 
thy  friend?  Is  that  thy  bed  requital  of  his  friendQ-jip  ? 
H^dil  i:hou  rather  he  fnould  burn  for  ever  in  hell,  than 
thou  Oiouldft  loie  his  favour,  or  the  maintenance  thcu 
hftfl:  from  him  ? 

To  conclude  this  ufe,  that  I  may  prevail  with  every 
foul  that  feareth  God,  to  ufe  their  utmoddilinence  to 
help  all  about  them  to"this  bleffed  reft,  let  me  entreat 
you  to  conlider  thefe  following  motives  : 

1.  Gonfider,  natire  teacheth  the  communic:::inT  of 
good,  and  grace  doth  efpecially  difpofe  the  foul  there- 
to ;  the  neglecl  therefore  of  this  work,  is  a  fin  both 
sigainfl:  nature  and  grace. 

Would  you  not  think  that  man  or  woman  unnatural, 
that  would  let  their  children  or  neighbours  familli  in 
the  ftreets,  v/hile  they  have  provifion  at  hand  ?  And 
is  not  he  more  unnatural,  that  will  let  his  childrrn  or 
neighbours  perifti  etersially,  and  will  not  open  his 
mouth  to  fave  them  ?  Certainly  this  is  moft:  ba)  barous 
cruelty.  '•  We  account  an  unmerciful,  cruel  man-  a  ve- 
ry mon'Ur,  to  be  abhorred  of  all.  Many  vicious  men 
arc  too  much  loved  in  the  w^orld,  but  a  cruel  man  is 
abhorred  ef  all.  Now  that  it  may  appear  to  you  what 
a  cruel  thing  this  negleft  of  fouls  is,  do  but  conlider 
thefe  two  things.  Firft,  how  great  a  work  it  is. 
Secondly,  how  fmall  a  matter  it  is  that  thou  refufetl 
to    do  for  the  accomplilhing   fo  great  a  work.     Firfx, 


220  T/ie'Siunts^  Evtrlaatiii^  Rest. 

it  is  to  lave  thy  brotner  from  eternal  flanies,  that  he 
may  Jiot  tl-^re  lie  roaring  in  endlels  rcmedilefs  tor- 
ments. It  is  to  bring-  him  to  the  eveihftiiig  rei"b, 
v.'here  he  may  live  in  inconceivable  happinefs  with 
God.  Secondly,  and  what  is  it  that  yen  fhould  dcr 
to  help  him  herein  ?  Why,  it  is  to  perluade  him,  and 
lay  open  to  him  his  fin,  and  his  duty,  his  mifery,  and 
the  remedy,  till  you  have  made  him  willing  to  yield 
to  the  oflers  and  commands  of  Cln'ifl.  And  is  this  fo 
great  a  matter  for  to  do^  to  the  attaining  inch  a  blef- 
fed  end?  Is  not  the  foul  of  a  liuibana,  or  wife,  or 
child,  or  neighbour,  worth  a  fev/  words  ?  It  is  worth 
this,  or  it  is  worth  nothing.  If  they  lay  dying  in  the 
fhrects,  and  a  few  words  v/ould  lave  their  lives,  would 
not  every  man  fay,  he  was  a  cruc-1  wretch  that  would 
let  them  perifh  rather  than  fpeak  to  tliem  ?  Even  the 
covetous  hypocrite,  that  James  reproveth,  would  give 
a  few  words  to  the  poor,  and  fay,  Go  and  be  warmed 
and  be  clothed.  What  a  barbarous,  unmerciful  wretch 
then  art  thou,  th?.t  wilt  notvcuchfafe  a  few  wcrds  of 
ferious,  fober  adnjonition,  to  fave  the  foul  of  thy 
neighbour  or  friend  ?  Crut-lty  and  unmercifulnefs  to 
men's  bodies,  is  a  moft  dar.*nable  fin  ;  but  to  thtii? 
fouls  much  more,  as  the  foul  is  of  greater  worth, thJin 
the  body,  and  iis  etcruily  Is  of  greater  mom:nt  th^d 
this  Ihovt  time. 

Alas  I  you  do  not  ll'e  or  ftcl  what  cafe:  their  fouls 
are  in,  when  they  arc  in  hell,  for  want  of  your  faith- 
i"ul  admonition.  Little  know  you  what  many  afoul 
may  now  be  feeling,  v^ho  have  been  your  neighbours 
tnd  acquaintance,  and  cied  in  th«ir  fins,  on  whom 
yoa  never  bcflowed  one  hour's  fober  advice  for  pre- 
venting their  unhappinefs.  If  you  knew  their  mifery, 
you  would  now  do  more  to  bring  there  out  of  hell; 
butj  alas  1  it  is  too  late,  you  fhould  have  done  it; 
while  they  were  with  you  ;  it  is  now  too  late.  As 
one  laid  of  phyficians,  '*  That  they  were  the  moil 
"  happy  men,  becaufe  all  their  j^ood  deeds  and  currV 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  221 

"  were  feen  above  f^round  to  their  praife,  but  all  their 
''  miftakes  and  neglecfls  were  buried  out  of  Tight."  So 
I  may  lay  to  you,  ninny  a  neglccl  of  yours  to  the  fouls 
about  you,  may  be  now  buried  with  thofe  fouls  iii 
hell,  out  of  your  fight,  anJ  therefore  now  it  doth  not 
much  trouble  you  ;  but,  alas  !  they  feel  it,  though 
you  feel  it  not.  Jeremiah  cried  out.  My  boivels^  my 
djivels,  I  ccAinat  hold  my  peace ^  bccaufe  of  a  temporal 
deOiruclion  of  his  people  :  and  do  not  our  bov/els  yearn  ? 
And  can  Vv'e  hold  our  peace  at  men's  eternal  deftruc- 
tion  ? 

2.  Confider,  What  a  rate  Chrin:  did  value  fouls  at, 
and  what  he  hath  done  towards  the  fiiving  of  them  : 
he  thought  them  worth  his  blood,  and  fliall  not  we 
think  them  worth  the  breath  of  our  mouths  ?  Will 
you  not  do   a  little,  where  he  hath  done  fo  much  ? 

3.  Confider,  what  a  deal  of  guilt  this  neglecl  doth 
lay  upon  thy  foul.  Firft,  thou  art  guilty  of  the 
murder  and  damnation  of  all  thofe  fouls  whom  thou 
dofl  neglctfl.  He  that  ftandeth  by,  and  fceth  a  man 
in  a  pit,  and  "%'ill  not  pull  him  out,  if  he  can,  doth 
drown  him.  And  he  that  ftandeth  by,  while  thieves 
rob  him,  or  murderers  kill  him,  and  will  not  help 
him  if  he  can,  is  acceff^iry  to  tlie  fail.  And  fo  he 
that  will  filently  fuifer  men  to  damn  their  fouls,  or  will 
let  Satan  and  the  world  deceive  them,  and  not  offer 
to  help  them,  will  certainly  be  judged  guilty  of  damn- 
ing them.  And  is  not  this  a  moll  drei-ivlful  confidera- 
tion  ?  O  firs,  how  many  fouh  then  have  every  one  of 
us  been  guilty  of  damning  I  v/hat  a  numbf^r  of  our 
neighbours  and  acquaintance  are  dead,  in  Avhom  we 
difcerned  no  figns  of  fan(Slification,  and  we  never  once 
plainly  told  them  of  it,  or  how  to  be  recovered  !  If 
you  had  been  the  caufe  but  of  burning  a  man's  houie 
through  your  negligence,  or  of  undoing  him,  or  de- 
ftroying  his  body,  how  would  it  trouble  ^    .      .-   ^mg 

T   2 


'i22  The  Sninla''  ExtriaMin<r  ]R§ist. 

o 

as  ycu  lived  ?  Iryoii  \\k\  hut  killed  a  man  unadvlf^c^- 
ly,  it  v/ould  iTiuch  tliiquiet  you.  We  have  known 
thofe  that  have  been  [;u"r!iy  of  murder,  that  could  ne- 
ver flcep  quietly  after,  nor  have  one  comfortable  day, 
their  own  conlcience'  did    fo  vex  and  torment    tliem. 

0  what  a  heart  muf):  thou  have,  that  haft:  been  guilty 
of  murdering*  fuch  a  ir^ultitude  of  precious  fculs  !  Re- 
member this,  when  thou  looked  thy  friends  or  carnal 
neighbour   in  die   face  ;   and  think  with   thyfelf,  can 

1  find  in  my  heart,  through  my  filence  and  negligence, 
to  be  guilty  of  his  everlafting  burning  in  hell  .'  Me- 
thinks  fuch  a  thought  fliould  even  u)Uie  the  tongiA.c 
ef  the  dumb. 

2.  And  as  you  are  guilty  of  their  perirhing,  fo  are 
you  of  every  iin  which  in  the  raean  time  they  com- 
mit. If  they  were  converted,  they  would  break  off" 
their  courfe  of  finning  :  and  if  you  did  your  duty, 
you  know  not  but  they  might  be  converted.  As  h« 
that  is  guilty  of  a  man's  drunkennefs,  is  guilty  of  all 
the  Gns  which  th.it  diunkcnnefs  doth  caufe  him  to 
commit:  fo  he  th:.t  is  guilty  of  a  man's  continuing* 
unregcnerate,  is  alio  guilty  of  the  iir.s  cf  his  unregc- 
r.eracy.  Kow  many  curfes  and  eatlis,  and  other  lin^ 
of  a  mori:  heinous  nature  are  many  of  ycu  guilty  of, 
that  little  think  of  it  ?  You  that  take  much  pains  for 
your  own  fouls,  and  feem  fearful  of  linniiig,  would 
take  ii:  ill  cf  one  that  IhoulJ  tell  you,  that  you  are 
g.i'.ity  of  Weekly,  or  daily  whoredoms,  and  drunken- 
r-ci>,  i-nd  fwearing,  and  lying.  And  yet  it  is  tco  true, 
even  beyond  all  denial,  by  your  r.cglcdl  of  helping 
thofe  who  do  commit    them. 

3.  You  are  guilty  alfo  of  all  thofe  judgments  which 
tiiofe  men's  fmi  biing  upon  the  town  or  country  where 
tuey  live.  I  know  you  are  not  fuch  atheifts,  but 
you  btlievc  it  is  God  that  fcndeth  licknefs,  and  fa- 
iiajie,  and  war  :  and  alfo  that  it  is  only  fin  that  niov- 
eth  him  to  thii   indignation.     What   doubt   then  i& 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  223 

there,  but  you  are  the  caufe  of  judgments,  who  do 
not  ftrivertgainfl  thofe  Uns  which  caufe  them?  God 
hath  ft.iid  hnig  in  patience,  to  fee  if  any  would  deal 
plainly  with  the  Tinners  of  che  times,  and  fo  free  their 
own  fouls  from  the  guilt  :  but  when  he  feeth  that 
there  is  none,  but  all  become  guilty  :  no  wonder  tlien 
if  he  lay  the  judgment  upon  all.  We  have  all  feen 
the  drunkards,  and  heard  the  iVearers,  in  our  flrcets, 
and  wc  would  not  fpcak  to  them  :  we  have  all  lived 
in  the  midfl:  of  an  ignorant,  worldly,  up.hcly  people; 
and  we  have  not  Ipokc  to  them  with  earneftnefs,  plain- 
nefo,  ai'id  love  ;  no  wonJer  then  if  God  fpcak  in  his 
wrath  both  to  them  and  us.  Eli  did  not  commit  the 
fin  himfelf,  and  yet  he  fpeaketh  fo  coldly  againfl  it, 
that  he  mull  bear  the  punidiment.  God  locketh  up 
the  clouds,  becaufe  we  have  lluit  up  our  mouths.  The 
c:irth  is  grown  as  hard  as  iron  to  us,  becaufe  we  have 
hardened  our  hearts  againfl:  our  miferable  neighbours. 
Tiie  cries  of  the  poor  for  bread  are  loud,  becaufe  our 
cries  againll:  fin  have  been  fo  lov,'.  Sickneffcs  run  a 
pace  from  houfe  to  houfe,  and  fweep  away  the  poor 
unprep'ired  inhabitants,  becaufe  we  fwept  not  out  the 
fm  that  breedeth  them.  As  Chrift  fiiid  in  another  cafe, 
Luke  xix.  40.  If  th'^se  should  hold  their  peace,  thf 
stones  would  speak  :  fo,  becauie  we  held  our  peace  at 
tiie  ignorance,  ungodlinefs,  and  wickcdnefs  of  our 
places,    therefore    do    thefe   plagues   and    judgments 


4.  Confider,  What  a  thing  it  v/lll  be,  to  look  up- 
on your  poor  friends  in  thofe  flames,  and  to  think 
that  your  neglect  Vt-as  a  great  caufe  of  it  I  And  that 
there  was  a  time  when  you  might  have  dons  much  to 
prevent  it.  If  you  Ihould  there  perifli  with  them,  it 
would  be  no  fmall  aggravation  of  your  torment  I  If 
you  be  in  heaven,  it  would  fure  be  a  fad  thought, 
were  it  poiTiblc  that  any  forrow  could  dwell  there,  to 
kear  a  multitude  ofpoor  fouls  there  to  cry  out  forever, 
O  if  you  would  but  have  told  me  plainly   of  my  fin 


2  24  Tlie  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

and  danger,  and  dealt  roundly  with  me,  I  might  have 
trie  aped  all  this  torment,  and  bien  now  in  reft  !  O 
■vviiat  a  fad  voice  v^ill  this  be  I 

5.  ConHder,  Kow  diligent  arc  tlie  enemies  of  thefc 
poor  fouls  to  draw  them  to  hell.  And  if  no  body  be 
diligent  in  helping  them  to  heaven,  what  is  like  to 
become  of  them  ?  The  devil  is  tempting  them  day 
and  night  :  their  inward  lufts  are  {rill  working  and 
withdrawing  them  :  the  fieHi  is  ftill  pleading  for  its 
delights  and  profits  :  their  old  companions  are  ready 
to  entice  them  to  fin,  and  to  difgrace  God's  ways 
and  people  to  them,  and  to  r ontradift  the  doftrine  of 
Chrift  that  fhould  fave  them,  and  to  increafe  their  dif- 
like  of  holinefs.  Seducing  teachers  are  exceedingly 
diligent  in  fowing  tares,  and  in  drawing  off  the  un- 
ftable  from  the  way  to  life  :  and  fhall  a  feducer  ba 
fo  unwearied  in  jjrofelyting  poor  unguarded  fouls  to 
his  fancies?  And  fliall  not  a  found  chriftian  be  much 
raorc  unwearied  in  labouring  to  win  men  to  Chrift  and 
life  ? 

6.  Confider,  The  negleft  of  this  doth  ver)^  deeply 
wound  when  confcience  is  awakened.  When  a  man 
comes  to  die,  confcience  will  afk  him,  What  good 
haft  thou  done  in  thy  life-time  ?  The  faving  of  fouls 
is  the  grcateft  good  :  What  haft  thou  done  towards 
this?  How  Hiany  haft  thou  dealt  faithfully  with  ?  I 
liave  oft  obferved,  that  the  confciences  of  dying  men 
very  much  wound  them  for  this  omiflion.  For  my 
own  part  (to  tell  you  my  experience)  when  ever  I 
have  been  near  death,  my  confcience  hath  accufed  me 
more  for  this  than  for  any  fjn  :  it  would  bring  every 
ignorant,  profane  neighbour  to  my  remembrance,  to 
whom  I  never  taade  known  their  danger  :  it  would 
tell  me,  thou  Ibouldft  have  gone  to  them  in  piivatc 
and  told  them  plainly  of  their  defperate  danger,  with- 
out bafhfulnefs  or  daubing,  though  it  had  been  when 
thou  lliouldft  have  eaten  or  ilept,  if  thpu  hadft  no  otliev 


Tke  Saints'  M^srlaatiu'r  Rest,  325 


tiuic  :  conicience  would  renieinber  mc,  how  at  iVcI; 
a  time,  or  iuch  a  time,  I  was  in  company  with  tka  ig- 
norant,  or  was  riding  by  the  way  with  a  wilful  finnci-, 
and  had  a  fit  opportunity  to  have  dealt  with  him,  but 
did  not  ;  or  at  Isafl  did  it  by  halves,  and  to  little  pur- 
poTe.  The  Lord  grant  I  may  better  obey  conicience 
hcreait'.'r  while  I  live  and  have  time,  that  it  may  have 
lei's  to  accJ-Te  me  of  at  death  ! 

7.  Confider,  lallly,  the  happy  confequenccs  of  this 
work,  where  it  is  faithfully  done  :   to  name  fome  : 

1.  You  may  be  infirumental  in  that  blefTed  v/ork  of' 
faving  fouls,  a  work  thnt  Chrift  came  down  and  divd 
for,  a  work  that  tiie  angels  of  God  rejoice  in  :  for, 
faith  the  Holy  Ghoft,  ''  If  any  of  you  do  err  from  the 
truth,  and  one  convert  him,  let  him  know,  that  he 
which  convevteth  the  nnnsr  from  the  error  of  his  way, 
fh:i!l  fave  afoul  from  death,  and  niall  hide  a  multitude- 
of  lins,"  Jamcs  v.  19.  20.  And  how  can  God  more 
hig-lily  honor  you,  than  to  make  ycu  inilruments  in  i'o 
great  a  work  \ 

?..  Such  fouls  will  blefs  you  her?  and  hereafter. 
They  may  be  angry  with  you  at  firll  ;  but  if  your 
words  fucrecd,  they  will  bkfs  the  day  that  ever  they 
knew  you,  and  blcis  God  tiiat  fent  you  to  fpeak  t,o 
thtim, 

3.  It  bringelh  much  advantage  to  yourfelves  :  firll, 
it  will  increafe  your  graces,  both  as  it  is  a  courfe  tkat 
God  Will  blcis,  and  as  it  is  an  a<fting  of  tliem  in  this 
perfuading  of  others  :  he  that  will  not  Itt  you  lofe  a 
cup  of  water  which  is  given  for  hint,  will  not  let  you 
lofe  thefe  greater  wtarks  of  charity-;  befidcs,  thofe  that 
have  pradlifed  this  duty,  mud  lind  by  experience,  thati 
they  never  go  on  more  profperoufly  towards  heaven, 
than  wlien  they  do  mofl  to  help  dth.ers  thither  \s;i^h 
them:  it    is  not   here   as  with  worldijy  trcufuies,  t'Li: 


226  The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest, 

ir.ore  you  give  away,  the  Itfs  you  have:  but  tlie  more 
you  >ive,  the  more  you  have  :  the  fetting  forth  Ch rift 
in  hiiiuhicls  to  others,  will  warm  your  own  hearts  ; 
the  opeuing  the  evil  and  danger  of  fin  to  others, 
will  Inert- afe  your  hatred  of  it.  Secondly,  it  will  in- 
creafe  your  glory  as  well  as  your  grace,  hoth  as  a  du- 
ty which  God  willreward,  {For  they  that  convert  many 
to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  f'.-  ever  and 
ever,  Dan.  xli.  3}  andalfo  as  we  fnail  there  behold  them 
in  heaven,  and  be  their  airociates  in  blelTcdnefs,  whom 
God  made  us  here  the  inftruments  to  convert.  Third*- 
ly,  however,  it  will  give  us  much  peace  of  confci- 
ence,  Avhether  v/e  fucceed  or  not,  to  think  thiit  we 
were  faithful,  and  did  our  beft  to  fave  them,  and  that 
"we  are  clear  from  the  blood  of  all  men.  Fourthly,  be- 
fjd.?3.  tl.jit  is  a  work,  that  if  it  fucceed  doth  exceed- 
i;;!y  rejoice  ^n  honeft  heart :  he  that  hath  any  fenfe 
^  1  <icc^'s  hoiior.  or  vl^e  l.afl  a^i^i  n  to  -Lo  foul  of 
:  !;  ^  r         . .  tiiuit  l:tc^!^i.rejpic^^   .  ..is  converlji;!!, 

■^-1..  .    be  '  the   iiiljrur.ien  ;,  '  jr\'^-^   •,,:,-. i 

I , :'.  ouiill.'cs  ll;e  meauo  c-  -  ...  -.  ..„, 

For  my  ov.-n  part,  it  is  an  unfpcakablc  comfort  to 
me,  that  God  hath  made  me  an  inilrument  for  the 
recovering  of  fo  many  fropj  bodily  difeafes,  and 
faving  their  natural  lives  ;  but  all  this  is  nothing  to 
t\\(t  comfort  I  have  in  the  fuccefs  of  my  labours,  in  the 
converfion  and  confirmation  of  fouls  ;  it  is  lb  great 
a  joy  to  me,  x.\mx  it  drov/neth  the  painfulnefs  of  my 
doiily  duties,  aiid  the  trouble  of  my  daily  languiihing 
and  bodily  griefs.  And  makcth  all  thefe  with  all  op- 
poiitions  and  difHcultiesin  my  work,  to  be  eafy  ;  and 
of  all  the  perfontil  mercies  that  ever  I  received,  next 
to  this  love  in  Chrifl:  to  nrf  foul,  I  moft  joyfully  blefs 
him  for  the  plenteous  fuccefs  of  my  endeavours  upon 
others  :  O  what  fruits  then  might  1  have  feen,  if  I 
had  been  more  faithful,  and  plied  the  V7crk  in  pri- 
vate and  public  as  I  ought  1  I  know  we  have  need  to 
be   very  jealous  of  Qur  deceitful  hearts  in  this  point, 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  227 

left  our  rejoicing-  flioukl  come  from  our  pride.  Na- 
turally we  would  every  man,  be  In  the  place  of  God, 
and  have  the  praife  of  every  good  work  afcribed  to 
curfelves  :  but  yet- to  imitate  our  Father  in  goodnefs, 
and  to  rejoice  in  that  degree  we  attain  to,  is  the  part 
of  every  child  of  God.  I  tell  you  therefore,  to  pcr- 
fuade  you  from  my  own  experience,  that  if  ycu  did 
but  know  what  a  joyful  thing  it  is  to  be  an  inHru- 
ment  for  the  faving  of  fouls,  you  would  fet  upon  it 
prefently,  and  follow  it  night  and  day  through  the 
greatell  difcouragements  and  refiftance. 

And  thus  I  have  fiiewed  you  v/hat  Hiould  perfuadc 
you  to  this  duty.  Let  me  now  c include  v/ith  a  word 
of  entreaty  ;  firft,  to  all  the  godly  in  general.  Second- 
ly, to  fome  above  others  in  particular.  - 


CHAP.     XIV. 


An   Advice    to   some   7nore  particularhj    to  help 
others  to  this  Rest, 

UP  then  every  man  that  hath  a  tongue,  and  Is  a 
fcrvant  of  Ch.rift,  and  do  Ibmething  of  this  your 
Miifter's  work  :  Why  hath  he  given  you  a  tongue  but 
to  fpeak  in  his  fervice  ?  And  how  can  you  ferve  him 
more  eminently,  than  in  the  faving  of  fouls  ?  He  that 
will  pronounce  you  blcffcd  at  the  laftday,  and  fcntencc 
you  to  the  kingdom-prepared  for  you,  becaufcyou  fed 
him,  and  clothed  him,  and  vifited  him,  in  his  mem- 
bers, will  furely  pronounce  you  bleffed  for  fo  great  a 
work  as  the  bringing  over  of  fouls  to  his  kingdom. 
He  that  faith,  The  poor  you  have  ahaajs  ivithyju^  hath 
left  the  ungodly  always  with  you,  that  you  mi^^ht  ftill 
have  matter  to  exeTjtJftyour  charity  upon.  O  if  you 
have  the  hearts  of  thriirii3ns^  or  of  njen  in   you,  let 


'528  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest, 

them  yearn  towards  ycur  poor,  ignorr.nt,  ungodly 
neighbours  !  Alas,  there  is  but  a  ftep  betwixt  them, 
and  death  and  hell  ;  many  hundred  diieales  are  wait- 
ing ready  to  feize  them,  and  if  they  die  unregeneratc, 
they  are  loft  i'crever.  Have  you  hearts  of  rock,  that 
cannot  pity  men  in  fuch  a  cafe  ?  If  you  believe  not  the 
\vord  of  God,  hov/  are  you  chriftians  yourfelves  ?  If 
you  do  but  believe  it,  why  do  you  not  beftir  you  to 
hflp  others  ?  Do  you  not  care  who  is  damned,  fo  you 
be  fared  ?  If  fo,you  have  as  much  canfc  to  pity  your- 
own  felvco  ;  for  it  is  a  frame  of  fpirit  inconfiltent  with 
grace  :  fliould  you  not  rather  fay,  as  the  lepers  of 
Samaria,  is  it  not  a  day  of  glad  tidings,  and  we  fit 
full,  and  hold  our  peace  ?  Hath  God  had  fo  much  mer- 
cy on  you,  and  will  you  have  no  mercy  on  your  poor 
neighbours  ?  You  need  not  go  far  to  find  objefts  for 
your  pity  :  look  but  into  the  ftrects,  or  into  the  next 
houfe  to  you,  and  you  will  probably  find  fome.  Have 
3^ou  not  a  neigbbour  that  lets  his  heart  below,  and 
jieglccTieth  eternity?  "What  bicffed  place  do  you  live 
in,  where  there  is  none  fuch  i  ]f  there  be  not  fomc 
of  them  in  thine  own  family,  it  is  \Tell  ;  and  yet  art 
thou  fiient  ?  Doft  tiiou  live  dole  by  them,  or  meet 
them  in  the  flreets,  orlabour  with  tiicm,  or  travel  with 
them,  or  fit  ftill  and  talk  with  them,  and  fay  nothing 
to  them  of  their  fouls,  or  the  life  to  come?  If  their 
lioufes  were  on  fire,  thou  wouldlt  run  and  help  them  ; 
and  wilt  thou  not  help  them  whcji  their  fouls  are  al- 
mofi:  at  the  fire  of  hell  ?  If  thou  knowcftbut  a  remedy 
for  their  difeafes  thou  wouldft  tell  it  them,  or  elfe  thou 
wouldfi  judge  thyfelf  guilty  of  their  death.  Cardan 
fpeaks  of  one  that  had  a  receipt  that  would  difl'olve  the 
jtone  in  the^ bladder,  and  he  makes  no  doubt  but  that 
man  is  in  licll,  becaufe  he  never  revealed  it  toany  be- 
fore he  died:  what  fliall  we  fay  then  of  them  that 
know  the  remedy  for  curing  fouls,  and  do  not  reveal 
it  ;  nor  perfuade  men  to  make  ufe  of  it  ?  Is  it  not  hy- 
pccrily  to  pray  that  God's  name  may  be  liallovjed^  and 
never  endeavour  to  bring  men  to  halloiv  it  ?  And  can 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  229 

you  pray,  Let  thy  kingdom  come  ;  and  yet  never  labour 
for  the  coming  or  increafe  of  that  kingdom  ?  Is  it  not 
grief  to  your  hearts  to  fte  the  kingdom  of  Satan  flou- 
rifli,  and  to  fee  him  lead  captive  fuch  a  multitude  of 
fouls  ?  you  fay  you  are  foldiers  of  Chrift  :  and  -will 
you  do  nothing  againft  his  prevailing  enemies  ?  You 
pray  alio  daily,  That  his  will  may  be  done  ;  and 
fliould  you  not  daily  then  perfuade  men  to  do  it  ? 
You  pray,  That  God  nvould  forgive  them  their  sins^ 
and  that  he  would  not  lead  them  into  temptation, 
but  deliver  them  from  evil.  And  yet  will  you  not  help 
them  againfl;  temptation,  nor  help  to  deliver  them 
from  the  greatefl  evil  ?  Nor  help  them  to  repent  and 
believe,  that  they  may  be  forgiven  ?  Alas,  that  your 
prayers  and  your  praclice  fhould  fo  much  difagree  ! 
Look  about  you  therefore,  chriftians,  with  an  eye  of 
compalTion  on  the  finners  about  you  ;  be  not  like  the 
Priefl  or  Levite  that  faw  the  man  wounded,  and  paf- 
fed  by  :  God  did  not  fo  pafs  by  you,  when  it  was  your 
own  cafe.  Are  nc5t  the  fouls  of  your  neighbours  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  Satan  ?  Doth  not  their  mifery  cry  out 
to  you,  help,  help  1  As  you  have  any  compaffion  to- 
wards men  in  the  greateft  mifery,  help!  As  you  have 
the  hearts  of  men  and  not  of  tygers  in  you,  help  ! 

But  as  this  duty  lieth  upon  all  in  general,  fo  upon, 
fome  more  efpecially,  according  as  God  hath  called 
or  cualified  them  thereto.  To  them  therefore  more 
particularly  I  will  addrefs  my  exhortation  :  whether 
they  be  fuch  as  have  more  opportunity  and  advanta,- 
gcs  for  this  work,  or  fuch  as  have  better  abilities  to 
perform  it. 

1.  All  you  that  God  hath  given  more  learning  and 
knov/ledge  to,  or  endued  with  better  utterance  than 
your  neighbours  ;  God  expcdcth  this  duty  efpecially 
at  your  hand.  The  lirong  ure  made  to  help  the  weak, 
and  thofe  that  fee  muil  direCl  ux  blind.  God  look- 
U 


250  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

fth  for  this  falthfil  improvement- of  your  parts  and' 
gifts,  which  if  you  nfglc(ft,  it  were  better  for  ycu  that 
you  never  had  received  them  :  for  they  will  but  fur- 
ther your  condemnation,  and  be  as  ufelefs  to  your 
own  falvation  as  they  are  to  others. 

2.  All  thofe  that  have,  efpeclally,  familiarity  with 
fomc  ungodly  men,  and  that  have  interefl  in  them, 
Good  looks  for  this  duty  at  their  hands.  Chrift  hir^- 
felf  did  eat  and  drink  with  the  publicans  and  finners, 
but  it  WIS  only  to  be  their  phyfician,  and  not  their 
companion.  God  might  give  you  intereft  in  them 
to  this  end,  that  you  might  be  a  means  of  their  re- 
coTery.  They  that  will  not  regard  the  words  of  ano- 
ther, will  regaid  a  brother,  or  fifler,  or  hufband,  or 
wife,  or  near  friend:  befides  that  the  bond  of  friend. 
fliip  doth  engage  you  to  more  kindnefs  and  compaf- 
fion. 

o.  Phyficians  that  are  much  about  dyingmen,  fiiould 
i]i  a  fpecial  manner  make  a  confcience  of  this  duty  : 
they  have  a  treble  advantage.  Fir  ft,  they  arc  at  hand. 
Secondly,  they  are  with  men  in  ficknefs  and  dangers, 
when  the  ear  is  more  open,  and  the  heart  lefs  ftubborn 
than  in  time  of  health.  He  that  made  a  fcorn  of 
godlinefs  before,  will  hear  counfel  then,  if  ever  he 
will  hear  it.  Thirdly,  befides,  they  look  upon  their 
phyfician  ss  a  man  in  whofe  hand  is  there  life  :  or  who 
at  Icaft  may  do  much  to  lave  them,  and  therefore  they 
will  the  more  regard  his  advice.  Therefore  you  that 
are  of  this  honorable  profeflion,  do  not  think  this  a 
work  befide  your  calling,  as  if  it  belonged  to  none 
but  minifters  ;  except  you  think  it  befide  your  cal- 
ling to  be  companionate,  or  to  be  chriftlans.  Help 
to  lit  your  patients  for  heaven,  and  whether  you  fee 
they  are  for  life  or  death,  teach  them  both  how  to  live 
and  how  to  die,  and  give  them  fonie  phyfic  for  their 
fouls,  as  you  do  for  their  bodies.  Bleffed  be  God  that 
very  many  of  the  chief  phyficians  of  this  age  have,  by 


The  Saints'  Everlastlnz  ^^'^^-  231 


tlieir  eminent  piety,  viiiJicated    their  proL-lTioa  from 
the    common   imputation  of  aihcifiii  and  profanenefF. 

4.  Another  fort  that  have  excellent  advantage  for 
this  duty,  are  men  that  have  wealth  and  authority, 
und  are  of  great  place  or  command  in  the  world, 
clpeciully  that  have  many  who  lire  in  dependence  on 
them.  O  what  a  world  of  good  might  gentlemen 
und  lords  do,  that  iiave  a  great  many  tenants,  and 
that  are  the  leaders  of  the  country,  if  they  had  but 
he^iPts  to  improve  ihtir  intercft.  and  advantage  1  Little 
do  you  that  are  fuch,  think  of  the  duty  that  lies  upon 
you  in  this.  Have  you  not  all  honor  and  riches 
from  God  ?  Is  it  not  evident  then,  that  you  mufl 
employ  them  for  the  advantage  of  his  fervicc  ?  Do 
you  not  know  who  hath  faid,  "  That  to  whom  men 
commit  much,  from  them  they  will  cxpedl  the  more  ?" 

You  have  the  greatefl  opportunities  to  do  good,  of 
inoft  men  in  the  world.  Your  tenants  dare  net  con- 
tradidl  you,  left  you  difpolTefs  them  or  their  children 
of  their  habitation  :  they  fear  you  more,  than  the 
ihreatenlngs  of  the  fcriptures  ;  they  will  fooncr  obey 
you  than  God.  If  you  fpeak  to  them  of  God  and 
their  fouls,  you  may  be  regarded,  when  even  a  mi- 
uiller  fhall  be  defpifed.  O  therefore  as  you  value  the 
lionor  of  God,  your  own  comfort,  and  the  falvrti- 
vn  of  fouU,  improve  your  intereil  to  the  utmofi  for 
God.  Go  vifit  your  tenants'  and  neighbours'  koufes, 
and  fee  whether  they  worlhip  God  in  their  families, 
Rjid  take  all  opportunities  to  prefs  them  to  tlieii  du- 
ties. Do  dot  defpifc  them,  becaufe  they  are  poor  or 
iimple.  Remember,  God  is  no  refpedler  of  perfons  ; 
)our  fiefli  is  of  no  better  metal  than  theirs  j  Fior  will 
the  worms  fpare  your  faces  or  hearts  any  more  than 
theirs  :  nor  will  yonr  bones  or  duft  bear  the  badge  of 
your  gentility  ;  you  mufl  be  all  equals  wMicri  you 
(land  in  judgment  ;  and  therefore  help  the  foul  of  a 
poor  man^  as  well  as  if  he  were  a  g-«ntlenjan  :  and  let 


232  Tke  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

men  fee  that  you  excel  others  r.s  much  in  piety,  heu- 
venlinefs.  compailion,  and  diligence  in  Gcd';s  ^vork, 
as  you  do  in  riches  and  honor. 

I  confefs  yow  are  like  to  be  fingular  if  you  take 
thiscourfe;  but  then  remember,  you  dial  I  be  fingular 
in  glory,  for  ftrj  great,  and  mighty,  and  noble  are 
called, 

5.  Another  fort  that  have  fpecial  opportunity  to 
help  others  to  heaven,  are  the  minifters  of  the  gofpel  : 
as  they  have,  or  (liould  have  more  ability  than  others, 
fo  it  is  the  very  work  of  their  calling  ;  and  every 
one  expe6leth  it  at  their  hands,  and  will  better  fub- 
jTiit  to  their  teachers,  than  to  others.  I  intend  not 
thefe  inflructions  fo  much  to  teachers,  as  to  others, 
and  therefore  I  fliall  fay  but  little  to  them  ;  and  if  all, 
or  moft  minifters  among  us  were  as  faithful  and  dili- 
gent as  fome,  I  would  {-dy  nothing.  But  becaufe  it 
is  otherwife,  let  me  give  thefe  two  or  three  words  of 
advice  to  my  brethren  in  this  office. 

].  Be  fure  that  the  recovering  and  faving  fouls,  be, 
the  main  end  of  your  ftudies  and  pr«aching.  O  do 
not  propound  any  low  and  bafe  ends  to  yourfelves. 
This  is  the  end  of  your  calling,  let  it  be  alfo  the  end 
of  your  endeavours.  God  forbid  that  you  fhould 
fpend  a  week's  ftudy  to  pleafe  the  people,  or  to  feek 
the  advancing  your  own  reputation.  Dare  you  appear 
in  the  pulpit  on  iuch  abufjnefs,  and  fpeak  for  yourfclvesj 
when  you  are  fent  and  pretend  to  fpeak  for  Chrift  ? 
Set  out  the  work  of  God  as  fkilfully  as  you  can  ; 
but  ftill  let  the  winning  of  fouls  be  your  end,  and  al- 
ways judge  that  the  beiV  means,  that  moft  conduceth 
to  the  end.  Do  not  think  that  God  is  bed  fervcd  by 
a  neat,  ftarched  oration  :  but  that  he  is  the  able,  flcil- 
ful  minlfler,  that  is  beft  Skilled  in  the  art  of  inftruft- 
ing,  convincing,  perfuading,  and  that  is  the  beft  I'er- 
»iGu  that  is  beft  in  thefe.     Let  the  vigor  alfo  of  your 


Tilt  Sainti^  Everlasting  Rest.  233 

peiTuafions  fhew,  that  you  are  fenfiole  on  how  weigh- 
ty a  bufiiiels  you  are  lent.  Preach  with  that  lerioiif- 
ricfs  and  fervour  as  men  that  btlievc  their  own  doc- 
trine, and  know  their  hearers  muft  either  be  prevail- 
ed with,  or  be  damned.  A'Vhat  you  would  do  to  fa\e 
them  from  everlaRlng  burning,  that  do  while  you  have 
the  opportunity,  and  price  in  your  hand,  that  people 
may  difcern  you  mean  as  you  fpeak  ;  and  that  you 
are  not  {tage-players,  but  preachers  of  the  doctrine  oi 
falvation.  Renien)ber  wliat  Cicero  faith,  '*  That  if 
*'  the  matter  be  never  fo  combuftible,  yet  if  ycu  put. 
*•  not  fire  to  it,  it  will  not  burn."  And  what  Eraf- 
mus  faith  *'  That  an  hot  iron  will  pierce  when  a  cold 
"  one  will  not."  And  if  the  \V:fe  men  of  the  world 
account  you  mad,  fay  as  Paul,  If  ive  are  beside  our- 
selves,  it  is  to  God:  and' remember  that  Ghrlft  was  fo 
bufy  in  doing  of  good,.".tliat  his  frieims  themlclves  be- 
gan to  lay  hands  on  hii^,  thinking  he  had  been  btlidc 
liimfelf,  Miiik  iii.  •     ,  ;^         . . 

>. 

2.  The  fecond  ani.  ctiief  word  of  advice  that  I 
^vould  give  you,  is  this  :  do  not  think  that  all  your 
-work  13  in  iludies,  and  in  the  pulpit.  I  confcfs  that 
is  great;  but  alas  1  jt/ |s  but  a  fmall  part  of  your 
tafK.  You  are  fhephtrds  and  rauH  know  every  flicep, 
and  what  is  their  difeafe,  and  mark  their  ftrayings, 
and  help  to  cure  them,    and  fetch  them  home. 

O  learn  of  Paul,  A^a  xx.  19,  20.  3  1.  to  prerxh 
publicly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe,  night  and  day 
with  tears.  Let  there  not  be  a  foul  in  your  charge 
that  ihall  not  be  particularly  inUrucled  and  watched 
'over.  Go  from  houfe  to  houfe  daily,  and  enquire 
how  they  grow  in  knowledge  and  holinefs,  and  on 
•vr hat  grounds  they  build  their  hopes  of  fahation; 
and  whether  they  walk  uprightly  and  perform  the  du- 
ties of  their  feveral  relations,  and  ufe  the  means  to 
iiicreafc  thrir  abilities..'  Sec  whether  they  daily  wor- 
U  2 


234  The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Resi, 

ililp  God  in  their  famlles,  and  fet  them  in  a  way, 
and  teach  them  how  to  do  it  :  confer  >vith  them  about 
the  doftrines  and  praftice  of  religion,  and  how  they 
receive  and  profit  by  public  teaching,  and  anfwer  all 
their  carnal  objeftions  ;  keep  in  familiarity  ^vith  them 
that  you  may  maintain  your  intereft  in  them,  and 
improve  all  your  intereft  for  God.  See  that  no  fe- 
ducers  creep  in  amongft  them,  or  if  they  do,  be  dili- 
gent to  countermine  them,  and  preferve  your  people 
from  the  infeflion  of  herefies  and  fchifms  ;  or  if  they 
be  infed\ed,  be  diligent  to  piocure  their  recovery  ; 
not  with  paffion  and  lordlinefs,  but  with  patier.ce  and 
condefcenfion  ;  as  Mafculus  did  by  the  Anabaptifts> 
vifiting  them  in  prifon,  where  the  magiftratc  had  caft 
them,  and  there  inftrufting  and  relieving  them  ;  and 
though  they  reviled  him  when  he  came,  and  called 
him  a  falfe  prophet  and"^  antichriftian  feducer  that 
thirfled  for  their  blood,  yet  he  would  not  fo  leave 
them,  till  at  lafl  by  his  meeknefs  and  love,  he  had 
overcome  them,  and  recovered  many  to  the  truth, 
and  to  unity  with  the  church. 

If  any  be  weak  in  ihefaith^  receive  him,  but  not  ta 
doubtful  disputations*  ^  If  any  be  too  carelcfs  of  their 
duties,  and  too  little  favour  the  things  of  the  Spirit, 
let  them  be  pitied,  and  not  negledled  :  if  any  v/alk 
fcandaloufly  and  diforderly,  deal  with  them  for  their 
recovery,  witk  all  diligence  and  patience,  and  fet  be- 
fore them  the  heinoufnefs  and  danger  of  their  fin  :  if 
they  prove  obftinate,  after  all,  then  avoid  them,  and 
caft  them  ofF:  if  they  be  iguQrant,  it  may  be  your 
fault  as  well  as  theirs  ;  but  however,  they  are  fitter 
to  be  inftru(^ed  than  rejected,  except  they  abfolutely 
Tcfufe  to  be  taught.  Chrift  will  give  you  no  thanks 
for  keeping,  or  putting  out  fuch  from  his  fcliool  that 
are  unlearned,  when  their  deb  re  or  will  in  to  be 
taught.  I  confefs  it  is  eafier  to  ftiut  out  the  igno- 
rant, than  to  beftow  our  pains  night  and  day  in  teach- 
ing them  ;   but   wo  to   fiicJv4oti\ful,    unfaithful  fer- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.         235 

vants.  Who  then  is  a  faithful  and  a  wife  fervant, 
whom  his  lord  hath  made  ruler  over  his  houfehold,  to 
give  thera  their  meat  in  due  feafon,  according  to 
every  one's  age  and  capacity  ?  "  BlelTed  is  that  fervant, 
v.'hom  his  Lord,  v/hen  he  cometh,  fliall  find  fo  doing.'* 
O  be  not  afleep  while  the  wolf  is  waking  !  Let  your 
eye  be  quick  in  ohferving  th«  dangers  and  ftrayings 
of  your  people.  If  jealoufies,  heart-burnings,  or  con- 
tentions arife  among'them,  quench  them  before  they 
break  out  into  raging,  irrefiftible  flames.  As  foon 
as  you  difcern  any  to  turn  worldly,  or  proud,  or  fac- 
tious, or  felf-conceited,  or  difobedient,  or  cold,  and 
flothful  in  his  duty  ;  delay  not,  but  prefently  make 
out  for  his  recovery  ;  remember  how  many  are  lofers 
in  the  lofs  of  a  foul. 

3.  Do  not  daub,  or  deal  (lightly  with  any  ;  fome 
will  not  tell  their  people  plainly  of  their  fins,  becaufe 
they  are  great  men  ;  as  if  none  but  the  poor  fliould 
plainly  be  dealt  with  :  do  not  you  fo,  but  reprove 
them  fliarply,  (though  differently  and  with  wifdom) 
that  they  may  be  found  in  faith.  God  doth  fufiici- 
ently  engage  us  to  deal  plainly  ;  he  hath  bid  us  fpeak 
and  fear  not  :  he  hath  promifed  to  lland  by  us  ;  and 
he  will  be  our  fecurity.  I  had  rather  hear  from  the 
mouth  of"  Balak,  God  hath  kept  thee  from  honour  ;" 
or  from  ''  Ahab,  feed  him  with  the  bread  and  water 
of  affliflion  ;"  than  to  hear  confcience  fay,  Thou  hast 
betrayed  souls  to  damnation  6j  thj  cowardice  and  si- 
lence ;  or  to  hear  God  fay,  Their  blood  will  I  require 
at  tJiy  hands  ;  or  to  hear  from  ChriPt,  the  judge,  "  Gad 
the  uiiprofitable  fervant  into  outer  darknefs,  where 
Hiall  be  weeping  and  gnafliing  of  teeth  ;"  yea,  or  to 
hear  thefe  finncrs  cry  out  againft  me  in  eternal  fire, 
and  with  implacable  rage  to  charges  me  with  their 
undoing.. 

And  as  you  muft  be  plain  and  fcrious,  fo  labour 
to  be  ikilful  and  difcrcct,  that  the  manner  may  feme. 


to3  Tilt  Saliit^i^  E\;irla^thig  Re&t, 

^^hat  anfwcr  the  exceileacy  of  the  matter.  How  oft 
li.ive  I  heard  a  ftjinmciln^^  tjii^^ue,  with  ridlculoua 
cxprcifions,  vain  rcpetiiloiis,  tedious  circumlocutions, 
aid  unfcciiily  pronunciation,  fpoil  mod  precious  doc- 
trine, a. id  make  the  hearers  either  loath  it,  or  laugh 
ac  it  I  How  common  are  thefe  extremes,  while  one 
fjjoils  the  f>^od  of  life  by  affcctdtion,  and  new-fa (liion- 
cd  Hiincing,  and  pedantic  toys,  either  fetting  forth  a 
Ittio  2iid  ni^an  matter  with  a  great  deal  of  froth,  and 
gaudy  divrfiing  ;  or  hiding  excellent  truths  in  a  heap 
of  vain  rhetoric  on  the  other  fiie  !  How  many,  by 
t'.icir  flovcnly  dreffing,  make  men  loath  the  fuod  of 
lire,  and  Cafl  up  that  which  fliould  nourifli  thera  I 
Stich  novices  aie  admitted  into  the  facred  funclion, 
to  the  liardciiing  of  the  wicked,  and  the  diJgrace  of 
the  tvork  of  tJie  Lord  ;  and  thofe  that  are  not  able 
to  fp?ak  fenfe  or  reafcn,  arc  niiue  the  ambaffadors  of 
the  mofl  high  God. 

O  thercfjre  let  me  befpeak  ycu  my  brethcrn,  in 
X'uL  lYuiut  of  the  Lord,  efpeciaily  thofe  that  are  more 
y.ung  and  weak,  th  .t  you  tremole  at  the  greatnefs 
of  tliis  holy  employment,  and  run  not  up  into  a  pul- 
pit as  bcldjy  as  into  the  market-place  :  ftudy  and  pray, 
piiny  and  fludy,  till  you  are  become  workmen  that 
need  not  be  afliamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
truth,  that  your  people  may  net  be  afliamed,  or  weary 
to  hear  ycu  :  but  that  belides  your  dear  unfolding 
the  docliinc  of  the  gofpel,  you  may  alfo  be  matters 
of  your  people's  affedions.  It  is  a  work  that  requir- 
f  th  your  moft  ferioua  fearching  thoughts  :  runnmg, 
liady,  eafy  ftudies,  bring  forth  blind  births.  When 
you  are  the  moft  renowned  doftois  in  the  church  of 
God,  alas,  how  little  is  it  that  you  know,  in  com.- 
parifon  of  all  that  which  you  are  ignorant  of  1 

4.  Be  fure  that  your  converfation  be  teaching  as 
well  as  your  doclrine.  Do  not  confute  your  doctrine 
by  yourpraclicc.     Be  as  forward  in  an  holy  and  hea- 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  237 

venly  life,  as  you  are  In  prefling  it  on  others.  Let 
your  difcourle  be  as  edi tying  and  fpiritual,  as  you 
teach  them  theirs  muft  be  :  for  evil  language,  give 
them  good  ;  and  blefling  for  their  curfmg.  Suffer 
any  tiling,  rather  than  the  gofpel  and  men's  fouls 
fhould  iuffcr  :  Become  all  things  (lawful)  to  o/lvien,  if 
fry  any  means jou  may  win  some.  Let  mtn  fee  that  you 
ufe  not  the  miniftry  only  for  a  trade  to  live  by  ;  but 
that  your  hearts  are  fct  upon  the  welfare  of  their  fouls. 
Whatfoever  meeknefs,  humility,  ccndefcenfion,  or 
felf-denial  you  teach  them  froni  the  gofpel,  O  teack 
it  them  alfo  by  your  undiffembled  example.  This  is 
to  be  guides,  and  pilots,  and  governors  of  the  church 
indeed. 

What  an  odious  fight  it  is,  to  fee  pride  and  ambi- 
tion preach  humility  !  and  an  earthly-minded  man 
preach  for  an  heavenly   converfation  I 

Do  I  need  to  tell  you  th.at  are  teachers  of  others, 
that  we  have  but  a  little  while  longer  to  preach  !  And 
but  a  few  more  breaths  to  breathe  ?  And  then  we  muft 
come  down,  and  be  accountable  for  our  work  ?  Do 
I  need  to  tell  you,  that  we  muft  die,  and  be  judged 
as  well  as  our  people  ?  Orthat  juftice  is  moft  fevere 
about  the  fandluary  ?  And  judgment  beginneth  at  the 
house  of  God? 

5..  The  laft  whom  I  would  perfuade  to  this  great 
work  of  helping  others  to  the  heavenly  reft,  are  pa- 
re:VL3,  and  maftcrs  of  families.  All  you  that  God 
hath  intrufted  v/ith  children  or  fervants,  confider 
what  duty  lieth  on  you  for  furthering  their  falvation, 
Tiiac  this  exhortation  may  be  the  more  effectual  with 
you,  I  will  lay  down  feveral  confiderations  for  you 
ferioufly  to  think  on. 

1,  What  plain  and  prefllng  commands  of  God  are 
there,  that  require   this    great    duty  at   your   baud  I 


:238  Thf  Saints^  Everlasting  I^est. 

o 

Dtut.  vi.  6,  7,  8.  "  And  thefe  \f  orJs  which  I  coinmand 
thcc  this  day  flirJI  be  in  thy  heart,  unci  thou  (halt  teach 
tlieni  diligently  to  thy  children,  fpcakin;^  of  them  when 
ilioLi  fittell  in  thy  huui'e,  and  when  thou  >vall:efl  by 
the  Viay,  and  when  thou  hell  down,  'jt.i\i\  when  thou 
nfeil  up."  And  how  well  is  God  pleafed  with  this  in 
Abraham,  Gin.  xviii.  17.  19,  '•  Shall  I  hide  tVom  A- 
brahaiii  that  thing;  Axhich  I  do  ?  For  I«know  him,  that 
he  will  command  his  children,  and  his  houfehold  after 
liim,  that  they  fliall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord."  Prov. 
•>.xii.  6.  "  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  Ihould  go, 
and  w  hen  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from  it."  So 
that  you  fee  it  is  a  work  that  the  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth  hath  luid  upon  you  j  aiid  how  then  dare  yoa 
j-,:-rlea  it? 

2.  You  will  clfe  be  witncITcs  ag-ainft  your  o\y» 
foi.h  :  your  great  care  and  pains,  and  coll  for  their 
bodies,  will  condemn  you  for  your  neglcdl  of  their 
precious  fouls  :  you  can  fpend  yourftlves  in  toiling 
and  caring  for  their  bodies,  and  even  negledl  your 
ov/n  fouls,  and  venture  them  fonie times  upon  un- 
V.- arrant  able  courfcs,  and  all  to  })rovide  for  your  pof- 
tcrity  :  and  have  you  not  as  much  reafon  to  provide 
lor  their  fouls?  Do  you  not  believe  that  your  chil- 
dren mufl:  be  eveilaflingly  happy  or  njiferable  ?  Aa|l 
ilioulJ  not  that  bt  fore-thought  in  the  firft  place  r 

3.  ConHder,  God  hath  made  your  children  to  be 
vfiur  charge  ;  yea,  and  your  fervants  too  :  every  one 
v.  .11  conf^'fs  they  are  the  minifier's  charge,  and  what 
u  dreadful  thaig  is  it  for  thcni  to  negleil  them,  when 
God  liath  toid  thcni,  That  if  they  tell  not  the  wick- 
ed of  their  fn  and  danger,  their  blood  Ihall  be  re- 
quired at  tiiat  miniftcr's  hands  I  and  is  not  your  charge 
i.b  great  and  as  drcadiul  as  theirs  ?  Have  not  you  a 
greater  charge  of  your  own  families  than  any  inini- 
Iter  hath  ?  Yta,  do ubtlefs,  and  your  duty  it  is  to 
tvach;  Uiid  udnionifii;  unJ  reprove  tlum,   and    watck 


^ 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest.  23  § 

•ver  thrra,  at  your  lian^Is  elfe  ^vill  Gcd  require  the 
blood  of  their  Ibuis,  The  greatefl:  charge  it  is,  that 
ever  you  -were  intrufled  with,  and  wo  tvT  you  if  you 
prove  unfaithful,  and  betray  your  truft,  and  fuifcr 
them  to  Ise  ignorant  for  want  of  your  teachin-j-,  or 
-wicked  for  want  of  your  admonition  or  corredtion. 


4.  Look  Into  .tl\e  dirpoGtion,:;  and  lives  of  your 
diiidren,  and  fee  v.hat  a  work  there  is  for  you  to  do. 
Firsts  It  is  not  one  fin  that  you  mufl  help  them  ar;ainft, 
but  thoufands  ;  their  name  is  legion,  for  they  arc 
many  :  it  is  not  one  weed  that  muft  be  pulled  up,  bitt 
the  field  is  overfprcad  with  them.  Sdcondly^  and  ho\r 
hard  is  it  to  prevail  again  ft  any  one  of  them  I  They 
are  hereditary  difeafcs,  bred  in  their  natures  :  they 
arc  as  near  th.^m  as  the  very  heart  ;  and  how  tenicious 
are  all  things  of  that  which  is  natural  I  How  hard  to 
teack  a  hare  not  to  be  afraid,  or  a  lion  or  tyger  not  to 
be  fierce!  Befidcs,  the  things  you  muft  teach  them, 
are  quite  above  them  ;  yea,  and  clean  contrary  to 
the  intereft  and  defires  of  their  flefh:  hov  hard  is  it 
to  teach  a  man  to  be  willing  to  be  poor  and  d^fpifed 
for  Chrift  ;  to  deny  themfclves,  and  difpleafe  the 
fiefli ;  to  forgive  an  enemy  ;  to  love  tliofe  that  h^te 
us  :  to  watch  againll  temptations  ;  to  avoid  occafions 
and  appearances  of  evil  :  to  believe  in  a  crucified  Savi- 
our ;  to  rejoice  in  tribulation  ;  to  make  God  their 
delight  and  love  ;  and  to  have  their  hearts  in  heaven, 
while  they  live  on  earth!  I  think  none  of  this  is  eafy, 
they  that  think  otherwife,  let  them  try  and  judge  ; 
yet  all  this  muft  be  learned,  or  they  are  undone  for- 
ever. If  you  help  them  not  to  fome  trade,  they  can- 
not live  in  the  world:  but  if  they  be  deftitute  of 
thcfe  tilings,  they  fliall  net  live  in  heaven.  H  the 
mariner  be  not  fkilful,  he  may  b?  drowned  ;  and  if 
the  fcldier  be  not  fkilful,  he  may  be  flain  :  but  they 
that  cannot  do  the  tilings  above-mentioned,  will  pe- 
ri Ih  for  ever  ;  For  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see 
God.    O  that  the  Lord  would  aiake  all  you  that   are 


240  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

parents  fenTible  what  a  -work  and  charge  doth  lie  upon 
you  1  You  that  negledl  this  important  -work,  and  talk 
to  your  families  of  nothing  but  the  world,  I  tell  you 
the  blood  of  fouls  lies  on  you  :  make  as  light  of  it  as 
you  will,  it'  you  repent  and  amend  not,  the  Lord 
will  iiortly  call  you  to  an  account  for  the  guilt  of 
your    children's  everlafting  undoing. 

5.  Think  with  yourfelves,  what  a  world  of  com- 
fort you  may  have  if  you  be  faithful  in  this  duty  :  if 
you  ihould  not  fucceed,  yet  you  have  freed  your  own 
Touls;  and  though  it  be  fad,  yet  you  may  have  peace 
in  your  own  confciences  :  but  if  you  do  fucceed,  the 
comfort  is  inexpvciTible.  For,  1.  Good  children  will 
be  truly  loving  to  thf.ir  p?irents  ;  when  a  little  matter 
will  moke  ungodly  children  caft  off  their  very  natuial 
affeclion.  2,  Good  .children  will  be  moft  obedient 
to  you  ;  they  dare  not'-dilobey  you,  becaufe  of  the 
command  of  God,  except  you  (hould  command  them 
that  which  is  unlawful,  and  then  they  mull  obey 
God  rather  than  mm.  3.  And  if  )ou  fliould  fall 
into  want,  they  would  be  moft  faithful  in  relieving* 
you,  as  knowing  they  are  tied  by  a  double  bond  of 
nature  and  of  grucev  4.  And  they  will  alfo  be  help- 
ers to  your  fouls  ;  tliey  will  be  delighting  you  with 
holy  conference  and  aclions  ;  when  wicktd  children 
will  be  grieving  you  with  curling,  and  fwearing,  or 
drunkennefs,  or  difobc;dience.  5.  Eut  the  greatcft 
joy  will  be  when  you  Ihali  fay,  Here  am  /,  and  the 
children  thou  hast  given  me.  And  are  not  all  thefe 
comforts  enough  to  perfuade  you  to  this  duly  ? 

G.  Confider  further,  that  the  very  welfare  of  church 
and  ftate  licth  mainly  on  this  duty  of  well-educating 
children  ;  and  without  this,  all  other  means  are  like 
to  be  far  lei's  fuccefslul.  1  feriouily  profefs  to  you, 
th'it  T  verily  think  all  tiie  (ins  and  miferies  of  the  land 
may  acknowledge  this  fin  for  their  nurfe.  It  is  not 
good  laws  and  orders  that  >Yili  reform  us,   if  the  men 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  241 

he  not  good,  and  reformation  begin  not  at  home  ; 
when  children  go  wicked  from  the  hands  of  their  pa- 
rents, in  every  profeffion  they  bring  this  fruit  of  their 
education  with  them.  I  tell  you  ferioufly,  this  is 
the  caufe  of  all  our  miferies  in  church  and  ftatc,  even 
the  want  of  a  holy  education  of  children.  Many 
lay  the  blame  on  this  negled,  and  that ;  but  there  is 
none  hath  fo  great  a  hand  in  it  as  this. 

7.  I  entreat  you  that  are  parents,  to  confider  what 
excellent  advantages  you  have  alaove  all  others  for  the 
laving  of  your  children. 

1.  They  are  under  your  hands  while  they  are 
young,  and  tender,  and  flexible  ;  but  they  come  to 
minifters  when  they  are  grown  older,  and  ftiffer,  and 
fettled  in  their  ways,  and  think  themfelves  too  good 
to  be  catechifed.  You  have  a  twig  to  bend,  and  wc 
an  oak  :  you  have  the  young  plants  of  fin  to  pluck 
np,  and  we  the  deep-rooted  vices.  The  confciences 
of  children  are  not  ib  feared  with  a  cuftom  of  iinning, 
md  long  refiQing  grace,  as  others.  You  have  fche 
loft  and  tender  earth  to  plough  in,  and  wc  have  the 
jiard  and  ftony  ways,  that  have  been  trodden  on  by 
many  years  pra6lice  of  evils.  We  hava  a  double  tafk, 
firft  to  unteach  them,  and  then  to  teach  them  better  ; 
but  you  have  but  one.  We  muft  unteach  them  all 
that  the  world,  and  the  flefli,  and  wicked  company, 
and  the  devil  have  been  diligently  teaching  them  iu 
many  years.  Ygu  have  them  before  they  are  poflefTcd 
with  prejudice  againft  the  truth  ;  but  we  have  them 
to  teach,  when  they  hare  many  years  lived  among 
thofe  that  have  taught  them  to  think  God's  ways  to 
be  foolilh.  Doth  not  the  experience  of  all  the  world 
fhew  you  the  power  of  education  ?  What  elfe  makes 
all  the  children  of  tlie  Jews  to  be  Jews  ?  And  all  the 
children  of  the  Turks  to  be  Mahemetans  ?  And  of 
chriftians,  to  be  in  profeflion  chriftians  ?  And  of  eack 
X 


242  The  Saints^  Everlastiiifr  Rest, 


feci  or  party  in  religion  to  follow  their  parents  ? 
Now  Avhat  an  advantage  have  you  to  life  all  this  for 
the  furtherance  of  their  happincfs  I 

2.  Confider  alfo,  tliat  you  have  the  afTfdlions  of 
vour  children  mere  than  any  otl.ers  :  none  in  the 
world  hath  that  in te reft  in  their  hearts  as  you.  You 
V7ill  receive  that  counfel 'jfrom  an  undoubted  friend, 
that  you  wou'ld  not  do  from  an  enemy,  or  a  ftranger. 
Now,  your  children  know  you  are  their  fiiends,  and 
advife  them  in  lov£  ;  and  they  cannot  bat  love  ycu 
again.  Nature  hath  almoft  necefliated  them  to  love 
you.  O  therefore  improve  this  your  intercft  in  them 
for  their  good  1 

3.  You  have  alfo  thcgreateft  authority  over  them. 
You  m.ay  command  them,  and  thej-  uare  not  difobey 
you,  or  eUc  it  is  your  own  fault,  for  the  moft  part  : 
for  you  can  make  them  obey  you  in  your  bufinefs  ; 
yea,  you  may  correct  them  to  enforce  obedience. 
Your  authority  alfo  is  the  moli  unqueftlonable  raitho- 
rity  in  the  world.  The  authority  of  kings  and  par- 
liaments have  been  difputed,  but  yours  is  paft  difpute. 
And  therefore  if  you  ufe  it  not  to  bring  them  to 
God,  ycu  are  without  excufe. 

4.  BeGdes,  their  dependance  is  on  you  for  their 
maintenance.  They  know  you  can  either  give  them, 
or  deny  thera  what  you  have,  and  fo  panifii.and  re- 
ward them  at  your  pleafure.  But  on  minifttrs  or 
neighbours  they  have  no  fuch  dependance.' 

5.  Moreover,  you  that  are  parents  know  the  tem- 
per and  inclinations  of  your  children,  what  vices  they 
are  moft  inclined  to,  and  v;hat  inftruclion  or  reproof 
they  moft  need  :  but  minifters  cannot  fo  well  knov 
this. 


The  Saints''  EK)er lasting  Rest.  24  3 

6.  Above  all,  you  are  ever  with  them,  and  fj  have 
opportunity,  ?.s  you  knov/  their  faulis,  lo  to  apply 
the  remedy*  You  m  ly  be  flill  talkinq-  totbcm  of  the 
word  of  Hod,  and  mindin,;  them  of  their  Hate  and 
duty,  and  may  f  dio-v  and  let  homJi  fvoy  vr?\'^  cf 
advice,  a:,  they  are  in  the  li'.mr.'  with  yen.  or  in  the 
fhr^p  or  in  the  field.  O  wliatan  excellent  advantage 
is'  this,  if  you  \\iy^  hf^.vtz  to  uic  it  I  Eipecially  you 
mother-!,  vemc^mber  this  ;  you  are  more  with  your 
childr.n  whil-?  tl'.ey  are  little  ones  than  thei>-  f.(ther3  : 
be  you  therefore  'lill  leachinfr  them  as  foon  as  eVcr 
they  aro  capable  of  l-iirnint;  :  you  caunot  do  G^d 
fuch  eminent  fervic^  ycurf-ilvcs  is  men  ;  but  you  may 
tr^in  up  chlidren  that  m>\y  do  it,  and  then  you  v/ill 
have  p:irt  of  the  coir.foii  at\d  honor.  What  a  deal 
of  pains  are  yoa  at  w.th  the  bo'iies  of  your  children 
more  than  the  fathers  ?  And  what  do  you  futTer  ta 
brin  J  t>.em  into  the  world  :  and  will  not  you  be  at 
as  aiuch  pains  for  the  favin^-  of  their  fouls  ?  You  are 
naturally  cf  more  tendi-r  affcilions  than  men  ;  and  will 
it  not  move  you  to  think  tliat  your  children  fhould 
perilh  for  ever  ?  Therefore  I  befeech  you,  for  tlie 
fake  of  the  children  of  your  bowels,  teach  thera,  ad- 
monifh  them,  watch  over  them,  and  give  them  no 
reft  till  you  have  brought  them,  to  Ghrift. 

And  thus  I  have  (liewed  you  reafjn  enough  to 
make  you  diligent  in  teaching  your  children. 

Let  us  next  hear  what  is  ufually  objtifted  againft 
this  by  neg-ligent  men. 

Obie£^.  1.  We  do  not  fee  but  thofe  children  prove 
as  bad  as  others,  that  are  taught  the  fcripturcs,  and 
brought  up  fo  hrlily  :  and  thofe  prove  as  honeft  men^ 
that  have  none  uf  this  ado  with  them. 

Anfw.  Who  art  thou,  Oman,  that  difputeft  againft 
God  ?   Hath  God  charged  you  to  '*  teach  your  children 


^Fhe  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest. 

y  liis'\rord,fpealingof  Itas  yoH  fit  atliome,  and 

In  abroad,  as  ycu  lie  down,  and  as  you  rife  up;'* 

<-  you  reply,  that    it   is   as   good  let  it  alone  ? 

t^iis  is  to  ftt  God  at  defiance  ;  and  as  it  were 

ill  his  face,    ar.d  give  him  the  lie.     Will  you 

.  well  nt   your  fervants,  if  when  you  command 

to  do  a  thing,  they   fnould  return    you  an   an- 

!.    th?t  they  do  not  lee    hut  it  were  as  good  let  it 

■  e  ?   Wretched  worm  I   darcflthou  thus  lift  up  thy 

d  againft    the  Lord  that  made  thee,  and  mufl  judge 

e  r   Is  it   not  he    that  commandeth   thee  ?   If  thou 

'icve  that  this  is  the  word  of  God,   how  darcfl  thou 

,  it  is  £.s  good  difobcy  it  ?     This  is    devilifii  pride 

..deed,    Avhen    fnch    fottifh,    finfu!    dull   fliall    think 

ihemfelves  wifer  than  the  living  God. 

2.  But  what  if  fome  prove  bad  that  are  well  brought 
up?  It  is  not  the  generality  of  them.  Will  you  fay 
that  Noah's  family  was  no  better  than  the  drowned 
world;  becaufe  there  was  one  Ham  in  it  ?  Nor  Da- 
vid's, becaufe  there  was  one  Abfiiloni  ?  Nor  Chrifl's> 
becaufe  there  was  one  Judas  ? 

3.  But  what  if  it  were  fo  ?  Have  men  need  of  the 
lefs  teaching,  or  the  more?  You  have  more  wit  in 
the  matters  o-f  this  world.  You  will  not  fay,  I  fee 
many  labour  hard,  anJ  yet  are  poor,  and  therefore  it 
is  as  good  never  to  labour  at  all  ;  You  will  not  fay, 
many  that  go  to  fchool  learn  nothing,  and  therefore 
they  may  k:\rn  as  much  though  they  never  go  ;  or 
»any  that  are  great  tradefmen  break,  and  therefore 
it  is  as  good  never  to  trade  at  all  ;  or  many  plough 
and  fov>?,  and  have  nothing  com<j  up,  and  therefore  it 
is  as  good  never  to  plough  more.  What  a  fool  were 
lie  that  fliould  reafon  tlius  !  And  is  not  ha  athoufand 
times  "worfe,  that  CihII  reafon  thus  for  men's  fouls? 
Peter  reafons  the  clean  contrary  way,  "  If  the  righte- 
ous fcarcely  be  faved,  where  (hall  the  ungodly  and  fin- 
Bcr  appear,"  1  Pet,  iv.  18.  And  fo  doth  Chriil,  Luke 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  245 

xiii.  24.  ''  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  ftrait  gate  ;  for 
many  fhallfeek  to  enter,  and  not  be  able."  Other  men's 
rniicarriages  fhoiild  qnicUen  our  diligence,  and  not  make 
us  cafl  away  all.  What  fliould  you  think  of  that  man 
that  fliould  look  over  into  hio  neighbour's  garden, 
and  becaufe  he  fees  here  and  there  a  nettle  or  weed 
among  much  better  (luff,  fliould  fay,  Why,  you  may 
f<!e  thefe  men  that  beftow  fo  much  pains  in  digging 
and  weeding,  ha\e- weeds  in  their  garden  as  well  as  I 
that  do  nothing,  and  therefore  who  would  be  at  fo 
much  pains  ?  Jufl  thus  doth  the  mad  world  talk.  You 
may  fee  now  that  thofe  that  pray,  and  read,  and  fol- 
low fermons,  have  their  faults  as  well  as  we,  and 
have  wicked  perfons  among  them  as  well  as  we  :  yea, 
but  that  is  not  the  whole  garden,  as  yours  is  :  it  is 
but  here  and  there  a  weed,  and  as  foon  as  they  fpy  it, 
they  pluck  it  *p,  and  cafl  it  away. 

©bjeft.  2.  Some  further  obje<ft,  it  is  the  work  o£ 
miniflers  to  teach  both  us  and  our  children,  and  there-, 
fore  we  may  be  excufed. 

Anfwer.  1.  It  is  firfl  your  duty,  and  then  the  mini- 
fler's.  It  will  be  no  excufe  for  you,  becaufe  it  is  their 
work,  except  you  could  prove  it  were  only  theirs. 
Magifl;rates  muft  govern  both  you  and  your  children  : 
doth  it  therefore  follow  that  you  muft  not  govern 
them  ?  It  belongs  to  the  fchoolmafler  to  correct  theiu, 
and  doth  it  not  belong  aUb  to  you  ?  There  nmfl  go 
many  hands  to  this  great  r/ork  ;  as  to  the  building  of 
an  houfe  there  mufl:  be  many  workmen,  one  to  one 
part,  and  another  to  another,  and  one  mufl  not  leave 
their  part,  and  fay  it  belongs  to  the  other  :  fo  it  is  here 
in  the  inflrucling  of  your  children  :  fiift,  you  muft  do 
your  work,  and  then  the  minifler  mufl  do  his  ;  you 
mufl  be  doing  it  privately,  night  and  day  ;  the  mini- 
fter  mufl  do  it  pnblicly  and  privately,  as  oft  as  be 
can.. 

X  2 


246  The  Saints''  Everlasthig  Rest. 

12.  But  as  the  cafe  now  ftands  with  mlnifters,  Xhtj 
are  difabled  from  doing  that  which  belongs  to  their 
office,  ;md  therefore  you  cannot  now  caft  your  work 
on  them.     1  will  inflance  but  in  two  things. 

Firstj  It  belongs  to  their  office  to  govern  the 
c.hurch,  and  to  teach  with  autKoriiy:  and  great  and 
finall  are  commanded  to  obey  them,  Heb.xiii.  7#  17, 
But  this  is  unknown,  and  hearers  look  on  themfelves 
a^  free-men,  that  may  obey  or  not,  at  their  own  plea- 
fure.  People  think  we  have  authority  to  fpeak  to  them 
when  they  pleafe  to  hear,  and  no  more.  Nay,  few 
.of  the  godly  themfelves  underhand  the  authority  that 
their  teachers  have  over  them  from  Chrift  :  they  know 
how  to  value  a  minifler's  gifts,  but  not  how  they  are 
bound  to  obey  hian  becaufe  of  his  office  :  not  that  they 
fliould  obey  him  in  evil,  nor  that  he  {hould  be  a  final 
decider  of  all  controverfies,  nor  fhould  exercife  his  au- 
thority in  things  of  no  moment ;  but  as  a  fchoolmafler 
may  command  his  fcholars  when  to  come  to  fchool, 
and  what  book  to  read,  and  what  form  to  be  of,  and. 
as  they  ought  to  obey  him,  and  learn  of  him,  and  not 
to  fet  their  wits  againfl  his,  but  to  take  his  word,  and 
believe  him  as  their  teacher,  till  they  underfland  as 
well  as  he,  and  are  ready  to  leave  his  fchool  ;  juft  fo 
are  the  people  bound  to  obey  and  learn  of  their  teach- 
ers. Now  this  minifterial  authority  is  unknown,  and 
lb  minifters  are  the  lefs  capable  of  doing  their  work> 
which  comes  to  pais,  I.  From  the  pride  of  man's  na- 
ture, efpecially  novices,  which  makes  men  impatient 
of  the  reins  of  guidance  and  command  :  2.  From  the 
Popifh  errors  of  implicit  faith  ;  to  avoid  w  hich  we  are 
ciriven  as  far  into  the  contrary  extreme  :  and.3.  From 
the  modedy  of  minfters,  that  are  loth  to  Ihew  tlieir 
commifTion,  and  make  known  their  aiuhorii^y,  left 
they  Ihould  be  thought  proud:  as  if  a  pilot  Ihould 
let  the  feamen  run  the  fhip  whither  they  will,  for  fe^i; 
^X  l?eing  thought  proud  in  exercifin^  his  authorit)^.. 


The  Sointa'^  Everhi-^tiug  Rtst^  247 

Secondly^  A  far  greater  clog  than  this  doth  lie  upon 
Hiinifters,  which  few  take  notice  of;  and  that  is,  the 
fewnefs  of  minilters,  and  the  greatnefs  of  congregati- 
ons, Jn  the  apoRles  time  every  church  had  a  multi- 
tude of  minifters,  and  fo  it  muft  be  again,  or  we  fiiall 
never  come  near  the  primitive  pattern  ;  and  then  they 
could  preach  publicly,  and  from  houfe  to  houfe  ;  bat 
now,  when  there  is  but  one  or  two  miniflers  to  many 
thoufand  fouls,  we  cannot  teach  them  one  by  one.  So 
that  you  fee,  you  have  little  reafon  to  cafl:  your  work 
on  the  minifters,  but  ftiould  the  more  help  thera  by 
your  diligence  in  your  fereral  families,  becaufe  they 
are  already  fo  over-burdened. 

ObjeA.  3.  But  fome  will  fay,  We  are  poor  men  and 
inufl  labour  for  our  living,  and  fo  mufl:  our  children  j 
we  cannot  have  time  to  teach  them  the  fcriptures,  we 
have  fomewhat  elfe  for  them  to  do. 

Anfw.  And  are  not  poor  men  fubjefl  to  God  as 
well  as  rich  ?  And  are  they  not  chriftians  ?  And  mull 
they  not  give  account  of  their  ways  ?  And  have  not 
your  children  fouls  to  fave  or  lofe,  as  well  as  the  rich  ? 
Cannot  you  find  time  to  fpeak  to  them  as  they  are  at 
their  work  ?  Have  you  not  time  to  inflrucl  them  on 
the  Lord's  day  ?  You  can  find  time  to  talk  idly,  as 
poor  as  you  are  ;  and  can  you  find  no  time  to  talk  of 
the  way  to  life  ?  You  can  find  time  on  the  Lord's  day 
for  your  children  to  play,  or  walk  or  talk  in  the 
ftreets,  but  no  time  to  mind  the  life  to  come.  Me- 
thinks  you  fliould  rather  fay  to  ycur  chidren,  I  have 
no  lands  to  leave  you  ;  you  have  no  hope  of  great  mat* 
ters  here;  be  fure  therefore  to  make  .the  Lord  your 
portion,  that  you  may  be  happy  hereafter  ;  if  you. 
could  get  riches,  they  would  fhcrtly  leave  you,  but  the 
riches  of  grace  and  glory  will  be  everlafting.  Me^ 
thinks  you  fhould  fay,  as  Peter,  Silver  and g9ld  I  have 
none,  but  such  as  J  have,  I  give  jou.  The  klngdojcs 


248  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

of  the  world  cannot  be  had  by  beggars,  but  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  may. 

O  what. I  terrible  reckoning  wilt  many  poor  men  have, 
v.henChriii  n^allpiead  hiscaufe,  and  judge  them !  May 
not  he  lay,  I  made  the  way  to  worldly  honors  inac- 
ceflible  to  you,  that  you  might  not  look  after  it  for 
youj'felvesor  your  children  ;  but  heaven  1  fet  open,  that 
you  might  have  nothing  to  difcourage  you:  I  confined 
riches  and  honors  to  a  few  ;  but  my  blood  and  falva- 
tion  1  offered  to  all,  that  none  might  fay,  I  was  not 
invited  :  I  tendered  heaven  to  th/e  poor,  as  well  as  the 
rich  :  I  made  no  exception  againft  the  meaneft  beggar; 
why  then  did  you  not  come  yourfelves,  and  bring  your 
children,  and  teach  them  the  way  to  the  eternal  inhe- 
ritance ?  Do  you  fay  you  were  poor?  Why,  I  did  not 
l>t  heaven  to  fale  for  money  ;  1  called  thofe  that  had 
nothing,  to  take  it  freely  ;  only  on  condition  they- 
■would  take  me  for  their  Saviour  and  Lord,  and  give 
wp  thgmfelves  to  me  in  obedience  and  love. 

What  can  you  anfwer  Chrifl,  when  he  (hall  thus  con- 
vince you  ?  Isilnot  enough  that  yourchildren  are  poor 
and  miferable  here,  but  you  would  have  them  be  worfe 
for  everlafting  ?  If  your  children  were  beggars,  yet 
if  they  were  fuch  beggars  as  Lazarus,  they  may  be  con- 
veyed by  angels  into  the  prefence  of  God.  But  be- 
lieve it,  as  Gcrd  will  lave  no  man  becaufe  he  is  a  gen- 
tleman, fo  will  he  lave  no  man  becaufe  he  is  a  beg- 
gar. God  hath  fo  ordered  it  ia  his  providence,  that 
riches  are  common  occafions  of  men's  damuation,  and 
will  you  think  poverty  a  fufhcient  excufe  ?  The  hardeft 
ponit  in  all  our  work  is  to  be  weaned  from  the  worlds 
and  in  love  with  heaven  ;  and  if  you  will  not  be 
weaned  from  it,  that  have  nothing  ia  it  but  labour  and 
forrow,  you  have  no  excufe.  The  poor  cannot  have 
time,  and  the  rich  will  not  have  time,  or  they  are 
afliamed  to  ba  fo  forward  :  the  young  think  it  too  foon^ 
3,nd  the  old  too  late  j  and  thus  nioft  ra^n  infteud  of  be-^ 


The  Sa'mts^  Everlasting  Rest.  249 

ing  faved,  have  fomewliat  to  fay  agalnft  their  falva- 
tion  ;  and  when  Chrift  Icndeth  to  invite  tiieni,  they 
fay,  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused,  O  unworthy  gueds 
of  fiich  a  bleffed  feaft,  and  worthy  to  be  turned  into 
everlafling  burnings ! 

Objedt.  4.  But  fome  will  objecl,  we  kave  been 
wrought  up  in  ignorance  ourfclves,  and  therefore  we 
r.re  unable  to  teach  our  children. 

Anfw.  Indeed  this  is  the  very  fore  of  the  land  : 
but  is  it  not  a  pity  that  men  fliould  fo  receive  their 
deAru(flion  by  tradition  ?  Would  you  hare  this  courfe 
to  go  on  thus  ftill  ?  Your  parents  did  not  teach  you, 
and  therefore  you  cannot  teach  your  children,  and 
therefore  they  cannot  teach  theirs  :  by  this  courfe  the 
knowledge  of  God  would  be  baniflied  out  of  the 
world  and  never  be  recovered.  But  if  your  parents 
did  not  teach  you,  why  did  you  not  learn  when  you 
came  to  age  ?  The  truth  is,  you  had  no  hearts  for  it ; 
for  he  that  hath  not  knowledge,  cannot  value  it,  or 
love  it.  But  yet,  though  you  have  greatly  finned,  it 
is  not  too  late,  if  you  will  but  follow  my  faithful 
advice  in  thefe  four  points, 

1,  Get  your  hearts  deeply  fenfible  of  your  own  fin 
and  mifery,  becaufe  of  this  long  time  which  you 
have  fpent  in  ignorance  and  negleift.  Bethink  your- 
felves  when  you  are  alone  ;  did  not  God  make  you, 
and  fuflain  you  for  his  fervice  ?  Should  not  he  have 
had  the  youth  and  ftrength  of  your  fpirits  ?  Did  you 
live  all  this  time  at  the  door  of  eternity  ?  What  if  you 
had  died  in  ignorance,  where  had  you  been  ?  What  a 
deal  of  time  have  you  fpent  to  little  purpofe  ?  Your 
life  is  near  done,  and  your  work  all  undone.  You  are 
ready  to  die,  before  you  have  learned  to  live.  Should 
not  God  have  had  a  better  (hare  of  your  lives,  and 
your  fouls  been  more  regarded  and  provided  for  ?  In 
the  midfl  of  thefe   thoughts,    call  down  yourfelves  in 


250  The  Saints''  Everlasting  ReS't* 

fonow  ?.t   the  feet  ofCi'-riO;  bewail  your  foil/,  and 
beg-  pardon  and  recovering  grace. 

2.  Then  think  as  frdly  liowyou  liave  wronged  your 
children.  If  an  nnthrlft  tint  hatli  fold  all  his  lands, 
Avill  lament  it  for  his  children's  fake^  as  well  as  his 
own,  much  more  fliould  you. 

S.  Next  fet  prefer. r.]y  to  work,  and  l:arn  yourfelves. 
If  you  can  read,  do  ;  if  yo:i  cannot,  get  fonie  that 
can  ;  and  be  much  among  thefe  that  will  inftru(fl  you; 
be  not  afliamed  to  be  feen  among-  learners,  but  be 
afhair.ed  that  you  had  not  learned  fconer.  God  for- 
bid you  fliould  be  fo  mad,  as  to  fay,  I  an  now  too  old 
to  learn  ;  except  you  be  too  old  to  ferve  God,  and  be 
faved,  how  can  you  be  too  old  to  learn  to  be  faved  ; 
Why  not  rather,  T  am  too  old  to  ferve  the  devil  and  the 
world,  I  have  tried  them  too  long  to  trufl  them  any 
more.  What  if  your  parents  had  not  taught  ycu  any 
trade  to  live  by  ?  Would  not  you  have  fet  yourfelves 
to  learn,  when  you  had  come  to  age  ?  Remember  that 
you  have  fouls  to  care  for,  as  well  as  your  children, 
and  therefore  firrt  b^'gin  with  yourfelves. 

4.  While  you  are  learning  yourfelves,  teach  your 
children  what  you  do  know  ;  and  what  you  cannot 
tffich  them  yourfelves,  put  them  to  learn  of  otliers 
that  can  :  perfuade  them  into  the  company  of  chofe 
wno  will  be  glad  to  inflruct  them.  Have  you  no  neigh- 
bours that  Will  be  htJpFul  to  you  herein  ?  O  do  not 
keep  yourfelves  ftrange  to  them,  but  go  among  them, 
and  dcfire  their  help,  and  be  thankful  to  them,  that 
tiiey  will  entertain  yoti  in  their  company.  God  for- 
bid that  they  Ihould  be  like  thofe  that  Chrifl  fpeaks  of, 
I.uke  xi.  52."  thit  would  neither  enter  into  tlie  king- 
dom of  God  th^rm reives,  nor  fuller  thofe  that  would  to, 
enter."  God  forbid  you  Hiouldljefuch  barbarous  wretch- 
es, as  to  hinder  your  children  from  being  godly,  and  to 
;eica  them  to  be  wicked  I   If  any  tiling  that  walks  iu 


The  Sci'mts"^  Everlasting  Rest.         25 1 

fiefh  may  be  called  a  devil,  I  think  it  is  a  parent  that 
hindereth  his  children  from  i\\lvation  :  nay,  I  will  fay 
more,  I  verily  think  thit  in  this  they  are  far  worfe 
than  the  devil.  God  is  a  rii^hteous  judge,  and  will 
not  make  the  devil  liiinfelf  worfe  than  he  is  :  I  pray 
you  be  patient  while  you  confider  it,  and  then  judge 
yourfc;Ives.  They  are  the  parents  of  their  children, 
and  fo  is  not  the  devil  :  do  you  think  then  that  it  is  as 
great  a  fault  in  him  to  feek  their  deftrudion,  as  iR 
them  ?  Is  it  as  great  a  fault  for  the  wolf  to  kill  the 
lambs,  as  for  their  own  dams  to  do  it?  Is  it  fo  hor- 
rid a  fault  for  an  enemy  in  war  to  kill  a  child,  or  for 
a  bear  or  mad  dog  to  kill  it,  as  for  the  mother  to  dalh 
its  brains  againfl  the  wall  ?  You  know  it  is  not:  do 
you  think  then,  that  it  is  fo  hateful  a  thing  in  Satan  to 
entice  your  children  to  fin  and  hell,  and  to  difcourage 
and  di(Tuade  them  from  holinefs,  as  it  is  in  you  ?  You 
are  bound  to  love  them  by  nature,  more  than  Satan  is. 
O  then,  what  people  are  thofe  that  will  teaclytheir 
children,  inrtead  of  holinefi^,  to  curfe  and  fwear,  and 
rail,  and  back-bite,  to  be  proud  and  revengeful,  to 
break  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  defpife  his  ways,  to  fpeak 
•wantonly  and  filthily,  to  fcorn  at  holinefs,  and  glory 
in  lin  1  O  when  God  fliall  afrC  thefe  children,  whei'e 
learned  you  this  language  and  practice  ?  and  they  iliall 
fay,  I  learned  it  of  my  father  or  mother  :  I  would  not 
be  in  the  cafe  of  thofe  parents  for  all  the  world  I  Alas, 
is  it  a  work  that  is  worth  the  teaching,  to  undo  them- 
felves  for  ever  ?  Or  can  they  not  without  teaching  learn 
it  too  eafily  of  themfclvcs  ?  Do  you  need  to  teach  a 
ferpent  to  ftiug,  or  a  lion  to  be  fierce  ?  Do  you  need 
to  fow  weeds  in  your  garden  ?  Will  they  not  grow  of 
themfclvesr  To  build  an  houfe  requires  {kill  and 
teaching,  but  a  little  may  ierve  to  fet  a  town  on  fire  : 
to  heal  the  wounded  or  the  fick,  requireth  Ikill  ;  but 
to  make  a  man  lick,  or  to  kill  him,  requireth  bi.t  lit- 
tle. You  may  fooncr  teach  your  children  to  fwear, 
than  to  pray  ;  and  to  mock  it  gcdlineis,  than  to  be 
truly  godly.     If  thefe  parents  were  fworn  enemies  to 


252  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

their  children,  and  Hiould  ftudy  feven  years  how  to  d« 
them  the  greatefl  niilchief,  they  could  not  poflibly  find 
out  a  furer  way,  than  by  drawing  them  to  fin,  and 
withdrawing  them  from  God. 

I  Hiall  therefore  conclude  with  this  earned  requcft: 
to  all  chriftian  parents  that  read  thefe  lines,  that  they 
"would  have  compallion  on  the  fouls  of  their  poor  chil- 
dren, and  be  faithful  to  the  great  trufl:  God  hath  put 
on  them.  O  firs  1  If  you  cannot  do  what  you  would 
do  for  them,  yet  do  what  you  can.  Both  church  and 
ftate,  city  and  country,  groan  under  the  negledl  of  this 
weighty  duty  ;  your  children  know  not  God,  nor  his 
laws  ;  but  take  his  name  in  vain,  and  flight  his  worfliip : 
and  you  do  neither  inftru^  them,  nor  correal  them,  and 
therefore  God  doth  correal  both  them  and  you.  You  are 
fo  tender  of  them,  that  God  is  the  lefs  tender  both  of  them 
and  you.  Wonder  not  if  God  make  you  fmart  for  your 
childrens'  fins  ;  for  you  arc  guilty  of  allthey  commit,  by 
your  neglecl  of  doing  your  duty  to  reform  them  :  even 
as  he  that  maketh  a  man  drunk,  is  guilty  of  all  the  fin 
that  he  committeth  in  his  drunkennefs.  Will  you  rc- 
Jblve  therefore  to  fet  upon  this  duty,  and  negledl  it 
no  longer  ?  Remember  Eli :  your  children  are  like 
Mofes  in  the  bafket,  in  the  water,  ready  to  perifh  if 
they  have  not  help.  As  ever  you  would  not  be  charged 
before  God  for  murderers  of  their  fouls  ;  and  as  ever 
you  would  not  have  them  cry  out  againfl:  you  in  ever- 
lafting  fire,  fee  tlTat  you  teach  them  how  to  efcape 
it,  and  bring  them  up  in  holinefs,  and  the  fear  of  God. 

You  have  heard  that  the  God  of  heaven  doth  flatly 
command  it  ;  I  charg-e  every  m'a:i  of  you  therefore,  up- 
on your  allegiance  to  him,  as  you  will  very  Ihortly 
anfwcr  the  contrary  at  your  peril,  that  you  will  nei- 
ther refute  or  negledt  this  moll  necelTary  work.  If 
you  are  not  willing  to  do  it,  now  you  know  it  to  be 
lb  plain  and  fo  great  a  duty,  you  arc  fiat  rebels,  and 
no  true  fubjecls  of  Chrifl.     If  you  are  willing  to  do  it, 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  25^ 

but  know  not  how,  I  will  add  a  few  words  ofdire6:ion 
to  help  you. 

1.  Teach  them  by  your  own  example,  %8  well  as 
by  your  v/jrds.  Be  yourfelves  fuch  as  you  would 
have  them  be  :  pr^dice  Is  the  moR  effcdual  teaching 
of  children,  who  are  addidled  to  imitation,  cipecially 
of  fcheir  parents.  Lead  them  the  way  to  prayer,  and 
reading,  and  oth.cr  duties.  Be  not  like  bafe  com- 
manders, that  wiil  put  on  their  foldiers,  but  not  gci 
on  thcmfelvr*.  'Can  you  expecft  yaur  children  flioulJ 
be  wiler  orl)..tter  than  you  ?  Let  them  not  hear  thofc 
words  out  of  your  mouths,  nor  fe«  thofe  pradices  in 
your  lives,  which  you  reprove  in  them.  Who  Hiould 
lead  the  way  in  holinefs,  but  the  father  and  maficr 
of  the  family  i  It  is  a  fad  time  when  a  mafter  or  fa- 
ther will  not  hinder  his  family  from  fcrving  God, 
but  will  give  them  leave  to  go  to  heaven  without  him. 

I  will  but  name  the  reft  of  your  dired  duty  for 
your  family.  1.  You  muft  help  to  inform  their  un- 
derftandingb.  2.  T©  ftere  their  memories,  3.  To 
redlify  their  wills.  4.  To  quicken  their  affections. 
5.  To  keep  tender  their  conlciences.  6.  To  reftrain 
their  tongues,  and  help  them  to  Ikill  in  gracious  fpeech  ; 
and  to  reform  and  watch  over  their  ©utward  conver- 
fation. 

To  thefe  ends,  \,  Be  fure  to  keep  them,  at  leaft, 
fo  long  at  fchool,  till  they  can  read  Englifli.  It  n  a 
thoufand  pities  a  reafonable  crcatwre  fhculd  look  up- 
on a  bible,  as  upon  a  ftoHe,  or  a  piece  of  wood.  2. 
Get  tiiem  bibles  and  good  books,  and  fee  that  they 
read  them.      3,   I".Aamlne  them  often  what  tiiey  learn, 

4.  Efpeclally    fpend   the    Lord's    day    in   this    work, 
and  fee    that  they  fjijend  it  not  in  fjorts  and   idlcnefs. 

5.  Shew  them  tht  meaning  of  v/hat    they    read    and 
learn.     6.  Acquaint  thciii   with,  and  keep   them   in 

Y 


254  The  Sahits^  Everlastitig  Rei^t, 

company,  where  they  may  learn  good,  and  keep  ihtm. 
out  of  that  company  that  -would  teach  them  evil.  7. 
Ee  fure  to  caufe  them  to  learn  fome  catechifm,  con- 
taining the»chief  heads  of  divinity. 

The  heads  of  divinity  which  you  mufl:  teach  them 
firft,  are  thefc. 

1.  That  there  is  one  only  God,  who  is  a  fpirit, 
invifible,  infinite,  eternal,  almighty,  good,  merciful, 
true,  juft,  holy.  2.  That  this  God  is  one  in  three, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghbft.  3.  That  he  is  the 
Maker,  Maintainer,  and  Lord  of  all.  4.  That  man's 
happinefs  confifteth  in  the  enjoying  of  this  God,  and 
not  in  flefnly  pleafure,  profits,  or  honours.  5.  That 
God  made  the  firft  man  upright  and  happy,  and  gave 
him  a  law  to  keep,  with  condition,  that  if  he  kept 
it  perfectly,  he  fhould  live  happy  for  ever  ;  brft  if  he 
broke  it,  he  fnould  die.  6.  That  man  broke  this 
law,  and  fo  forfeited  his  welfare,  and  became  guilty 
of  death  as  to  himfelf,  and  all  his  poflerity.  7.  That 
Chrift  the  Son  of  God  did  here  interpofe,  and  pre- 
vent the  full  execution,  undertaking  to  die  inflead  of 
man,  and  fo  redeem  him.  8.  That  Chrill  hereupon 
did  make  with  man  a  better  covenant,  which  pro- 
claimed pardon  of  fin  to  all  that  did  but  repent,  and 
believe,  and  obey  fincerely.  9,  That  he  revealed  this 
covenant  and  mercy  to  the  world  by  degrees  :  Firft, 
in  darker  promifcs,  prophefies,  and  facrifices  ;  then 
in  many  ceremonious  types  ;  and  then  by  more  plain 
foretdling  by  the  propliets.  10.  That  in  the  fulnefs 
of  time  Chrirt  came  and  took  our  nature  into  union 
with  his  God-head,  being  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  and  born  of  the  virgin  Mary.  11.  That 
while  he  was  on  earth,  he  lived  a  life  of  forrows,  was 
.crowned  with  thorns,  and  bore  the  pains  that  our  fins 
deferved  :  at  laft  being  crucified  to  death,  and  buried, 
fo  fatisfied  the  juHice  of  God.  12.  That  he  alfo 
preached  to   the  Jews,  and  by  conftant  miracles  prov- 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,         ^55 

ed  the  truth  of  his  dodrhies  before  thoufands  of  wit- 
neffes  :  that  he  revealed  more  fully  his  new  covenant, 
That  whofocver  will  believe  in  him,  and  accept  him 
for  their  Saviour  and  Lord,  fliall  be  pardoned  and 
faved,  and  have  afar  greater  glory  than  they  loil  ; 
and  they  that  will  not,  Ihall  lie  under  the  curfe  and 
guilt,  and  be  condemned  to  the  everlafllng  fire  of 
hell.  13.  That  he  role  again  from  the  dead,  havin.g^ 
conquered  death,  and  took  poiTelTion  of  his  domini- 
on over  all,  and  fo  afcended  up  into  heaven,  and 
there  reigneth  in  glory.  14.  That  before  his  alVen- 
iiou  he  gave  charge  to  his  apcRles  to  preach  the  gof- 
pel  to  all  jiations  and  perfons,  and  to  oflfir  Chriit,  and 
mercy,  and  life,  to  every  one  without  exception, 
and  to  entreat  and  perfuade  them  to  receive  him,  ani 
that  he  gave  them  authority  to  fend  forth  others  on 
the  fame  nieffage,  and  to  baptize,  and  to  gather 
churches,  and  confirm,  and  order  them,  and  fettle  a 
courfe  for  the  fucceflion  of  miniflers  and  ordinances 
to  the  end  of  the  world.  15.  That  he  alfo  gave  them, 
power  to  work  frequent  and  evident  miracles  for  the 
confirmation  of  their  do(flrine  ;  and  to  annex  their 
writings  to  the  reft  of  the  fcriptures,  and  fo  to  finifli 
and  leal  them  up,  and  deliver  them  to  the  world  as- 
ills  infallible  word,  which  none  muit  dare  to  alter,  and 
which  all  mull  obferve.  16.  That  for  all  his  free 
grace  is  offered  to  the  world,  yet  the  heart  is  by*  na- 
ture fo  defperatcly  wicked,  that  no  man  will  believe 
and  entertain  Chrill  fincerely,  except  by  an  almighty 
power  he  be  changed  and  born  again  ;  and  therefore 
doth  Chrift  fend  forth  his  fplrit  ^Yith  his  word,  which 
workcth  holincij  in  our  hearts,  drawing  us  to  God 
and  the  Redeemer.  17.  That  the  means  by  which 
Chrift  worketh  and  prefcrveth  this  grace,  is  the  word 
read  and  preached,  together  with  frequeut,  fervent 
prayer,  meditation,  facraments,  and  gracious  confer- 
ence ;  and  it  i^  much  furthered  alio  by  fpecial  provi- 
dences keeping  us  from  temptation  ;  fitting  occurren- 
ces to  our  advantage,  drawing  u?    by    mercies,  and 


2oG  The  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest, 

tlrivlng  113  by  afniaioiiF.  ;   and  therefore  itmuA  be  the 
great  and  daily  care  of  every  chriaian  to  ufe  faithful- 
ly   r.ll    the    oidh  aKCts,  and  improve   all  providences. 
\^,  That  i)-icup;h  the  new  law  or  covenant  be  an  ea- 
fy   yoke,  ai^.d   there    is    pcthing  grlevci^s  in   Chrifi's 
commands,  yet  fo  bad  are  or.r  h.carts,   ?-nd   fo  Hrnng 
our   temptation?,  and    fo  diligent    our   enemies,  tliat 
whofocvc-r  will  be  fuved,  muft  Arive,  and  watch,  snd 
bcfrov/  iiis  utmoft  care  and  pains,    and  deny  his  flefli, 
andforfiike  all  that  -Nvculd  draw  him  from  Chrift,  and 
}ierein   continue  to  the   end,  and  overcome  ;   and  be- 
caufc  this  cannot  be  done  Vriihont  continual  fupplie? 
of  grace,  whereof  Chrift  Is  the   only  fountain,  there- 
fore we  mvO  live  in  continual  depcndancc  on  him  by 
faith,   and  know  f/.flf  ci^r  life  is  hid  with  God  in  him, 
19.   That  Chrift  will  thus  by  his   word   and  Spirit  ga- 
ther him  a  church  out  of  all  the  world,  which  is  his 
body  and  fpoufe,  and  he  their  head  and  hufband,  and 
■will  be  tender  of  them  as  the    apple  of  hie  eyes,  and 
preferve  them  from  danger,  and  continue  among  them 
his  prefcnce  and  oidinances;  and  that  the  members  of 
thiii  church  mufl  live  together  in  entire  love  and  peace, 
delighting   thcmfelves  in  God,   and    his  worfliip,  and 
the  fore -thoughts  of  their  cverlafling  happincfs  ;   for- 
bearing   and    forgiving   one  another,    and    relieving 
each  other  in  need  ;  and  all  men  ought  to  ftrive  to  be 
of  this  fociety  ;  yet  will   the    viPible  churches  be  ftill 
Hiived   of  good  nnd    bad.     20.  That  when  the    full 
number    of  thefc  are   called   home,  Chrill  v/ill  come 
down  from  heaven  again,  and  raife  all  the  dead,  and 
fet  them  botfore  him  to  be  judged  ;   and  all  that  have 
loved  God,  and   believed  in    ChriA,  and  been  willing 
that  he    fliculd   reign  over  them,    and  have  improved 
their  mercies  in  the  day  of  grace,  them  he  willjufli- 
fy,  and  fcntence    them  to  inherit    everlafling   glory  ; 
and  thofe  that    were    not    fuch,  he   will   condemn  to 
everla^ing  fire  :  both  which    fcntcncea  fiiall  be  then 
executed  accordingly. 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  257 

This  is  the  brief  futn  of  the  doflrine  which  you 
rauch  teach  your  children.  Though  our  oidinaiy 
creed,  called  the  apoftlcs  creed,  contain  all  the  abfo- 
lute  fundamentals  ;  yet  In  fonie  it  is  lb  generally  and 
darkly  cxpreffed,  that  an  explication  is  neceflary. 

Then  for  matter  of  praclice,  teach  them  the  mean- 
ing of  the  commandments,  efpccially  of  the  great 
commands  of  the  gofpel  ;  fliew  them  wliat  is  com- 
manded and  forbidden,  in  the  firfl  table  and  in  tlie 
fecond,  toward  God  and  men,  in  regard  of  the  in- 
ward and  out\f ard  man.  And  here  Uiew  them,  l.The 
authority  commanding,  that  is,  tlie  Almighty  God, 
by  Chrift  the  Redeemer.  They  are  not  now  to  look 
^t  the  command  as  coming  from  God  immediately, 
merely  as  God,  or  the  Creator  ;  bat  as  coming  from 
God  by  Chrift  the  Mediator,  ivho  is  now  the  Lord  of 
ail;  seeing  the  Father  now  judgeth  no  man^  but  hath 
committed  all  judgment  to  the  Son,  2.  Shew  them  the 
terms  on  which  duty   is  required,  and  the  ends  of  it, 

3.  And  the  nature  of  duties,  and  the  way  to  perform 
them  aright.  4.  And  the  right  order,  that  they  firll 
love  God,  aud  then  their  neighbour  ;  Jirst  seek  the 
kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness.  5.  Shew  them 
the  exoellen.'.csand  delights  of  God's  fcrvice.  6.  And 
the  flat  necelHty  of  all  this.  7»  Efpccially  labour  to 
get  all  to  their  hearts,  and  teach  them  not  only  to 
fpeak  the  words,  but  to  reduce  them  to  practice. 

And  for  Gn,  fhew  them  its  evil  and  danger,  and 
watch  over  them  againft  it.  Efpetially,  1,  The  fins 
that  youth  is  cc-mmonly  addided  to.  2.  And  which 
their  nature  and  conftitution  moft  lead  them  to.  3. 
And  which  the  time  and  place  moft  ftrongly  tempt  to. 

4.  But  efpccially  be  fore  to  kill  their  killing  fms, 
thofe  that  all  are  prone  to,  and  are  uf  all  moft  dead- 
ly ;  as  pride,  worldlincfs,  ignorance,  proftintnefoj  and 
flelh-pleafing.  / 

y  2 


2SS  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Icesi, 

And  for  the  manner,  you  mud  do  all  this,  I,  Be- 
times, before  fin  get  rooting.  2.  Frequently.  3.  Sea- 
fonably.  4.  Seriouliy  and  diligently.  5.  Affedion- 
ately  and  tenderly.  6.  And  with  authority  :  com- 
pelling, whefe  commanding  will  not  ferve  ;  and  adding 
corredlion,  where  inllrudlion  is  fruftrated. 

And  thus  I  have  done  with  the  ufe  of  exhortation, 
to  do  our  utmofl  l^or  the  falvation  of  others.  The 
Lord  give  men  compalFionate  hearts,  that  it  may  be 
praftifed,  and  then  1  doubt  not  but  hr  will  fucceed  it 
to  the  increafe  of  his  church. 


£ncl  of  the  Second  Pari, 


THE 

SAINTS'  EVERLASTING  REST, 
PART    III. 


Containing  a  Dir  ector  y  /or  the  getting  and  keeping 

tJie  heart  in  Heaven^  by  the  diligent  Practice  of 

that  excellent  duty  of  Meditation. 


CHAP.     I. 

Reproving  our  Expectations  of  Rest  on  Earth* 


DOTH  this  reft  remain  ?  How  great  then  Is  our 
fin  and  folly  to  feck  and  expcdt  it  here  ?  Where 
fhall  we  find  the  chriftian  that  deferves  not  this  re- 
proof? Surely  we  may  all  cry  guilty  to  this.  We 
know  not  how  to  enjoy  convenient  houfes,  goods, 
lands,  and  revenues,  but  we  feek  reft  in  thefe  enjoy« 
ments.  Wefeldom,  I  fear,  have  fuchfweet  and  con- 
tenting thoughts  of  God  and  glory,  as  we  have  of  our 
earthly  delights.  How  much  reft  do  we  feek  in  build- 
ings, walks,  apparel,  cafe,  recreation,  flcep,  pleafing 
meats  and  drinks,  company,  health  and  ftrength,  and 
long  life  ?  Nay,  we  can  fcarcely  enjoy  the  necelTary 
means  that  God  hath  appointed  for  our  fpiritual 
good,  but  we  are  feeking  reft  in  them.  Our  books, 
our  preachers,    fernvons,  friends,  abilities  for   duty, 


200  The  Saints''  Evcrlasiing  Rest. 

do  not  our  hearts  quiet  thenifelves  in  them,  even 
more  than  in  God  ?  Indeed,  in  words  we  difclaini, 
and  God  hath  ufually  tl\e  pre-eminence  iii  our  tongues 
and  profcflions  :  but  do  we  not  defire  thtfe  more  vi- 
olently when  we  want  them,  than  we  do  the  Lord 
himlelf  ?  Do  we  not  cry  out  more  fenfibly,  O  my 
friend,  my  goods,  my  health  !  than,  O  my  God  I 
Do  we  not  mifs  miniftry  and  means  more  paflionatcly 
than  we  mifs  our  God  ?  Do  we  not  beflir  ourfelves 
more  to  obtain  and  enjoy  thefc,  than  we  do  to  reco- 
ver ©ur  communion  with  God  I  Do  we  not  delight 
reore  in  the  pofTtllion  of  thefe,  than  we  do  in  the  fru- 
ition of  God  himfelf :  Nay,  are  not  thofe  mercies 
and  duties  more  pleafant  to  us,  wherein  we  ftand  at 
the  greatcft  diftance  from  God  ?  We  can  read,  and 
lUidy,  and  confer,  preach  and  hear,  day  after  day, 
without  much  wearinefs  ;  becaufe  in  thefe  we  have  to 
do  with  infiiruments  and  creatures  :  but  in  fecret  pray- 
er and  converGng  with  God  immediately,  where  no 
creature  interpofeth,  how  dull,  how  heartlefs  and 
weary  are  we  ?  And  if  we  lofe  creatures  or  means, 
doth  it  not  trouble  ns  more  than  our  lofs  of  God? 
If  we  lofe  but  a  friend,  or  health,  all  the  town  will 
hear  of  it:  but  we  can  mifs  our  God  and  fcarce  be- 
moan our  mifery.  Thus  it  is  apparent,  we  make  the 
creature  our  rc(\.  It  is  not  enough,  that  they  are  re- 
frefliing  helps  in  our  way  to  heaven  ;  but  they  muft 
alio  be  made  our  heaven  itfelf.  Reader,  I  would  as 
Avillingly  make  thee  fenfible  of  this  fin.  as  of  any  fin 
in  tke  world  ;  for  the  Lord's  greateil  quarrel  with  us 
is  in  this  point.  Therefore  1  mofl  earnc;fUy  befeech 
theetoprefs  upon  thine  own  confcicnce  thefe  follow- 
ing confiderations. 

1.  It  is  grofs  idolatry  to  make  any  creature  or 
means  our  reft  :  to  fettle  the  foul  upon  it,  and  fay, 
now  I  am  well,  upon  the  bare  enjoyment  of  the  crea- 
ture :  what  is  this,  but  to  make  it  our  God  ?  Cer- 
tainly, to  be  tke  foul's  reft  is  Qod'   ovn  prerogative. 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  261 

And  as  it  is  palpable  idolatry  to  place  our  reft  in 
riches  and  honours  ;  fo  it  is'  but  a  more  refined  idola- 
try to  take  up  cur  reft  in  excellent  means,  in  the 
church's,  profperity,  and  in  its  reformation.  When 
we  v/ould  have  all  that  out  of  God,  which  is  to  be 
had  only  in  God  ;  what  is  this  but  to  run  away  from 
him  to  the  creature,  and  in  our  hearts  tqi  deny  him  ? 
V/hen  we  fetch  more  of  our  comfort  from  the  thoughts 
of  profpcrity,  and  thofe  mercies  which  we  have  at  a 
diflance  from  God,  than  from  the  fore-thoughts  of 
our  evtrlafting  bleiTedneis  in  him.  Are  we  not  chriftians 
in  judgment,  and  pat;ans  in  aiT^clicn  ?  Do  v/e  give 
our  fenfc-s  leave  to  be  the  clioofei^  of  o'jr  hacplnefs, 
while  reaibn  and  faith  ftand  by  ?  O  how  ill  niufl  our 
dear  Lord  needs  take  it,  v,'hcn  v^e  give  hia:  caufc  to 
complain,  as  fometime  he  did  of  our  fjllow-idolaters, 
Jer.  1.  6.  that  we  have  been  loft  flieep,  and  have  for- 
gotten our  rcfting  pLiee  !  When  we  give  him  cauie  to 
fay,  my  people  can  find  reft  in  any  thing  rather  than 
in  mc  !  They  can  find  delight  in  one  another,  but 
none  in  me;  they  can  rejoice  in  my  creatures  and  or- 
dinances, but  not  in  me  ;  yea,  in  their  very  labours 
and  duty  they  feek  for  reft,  but  not  in  me  ;  they  had 
rather  be  any  where  than  be  with  me  :  are  thefe  their 
gods?  Have  thefe  delivered  and  redeemed  them? 
Will  thefe  be  better  to  them  than  1  have  been,  or  than 
I  v/ould  be  ?  If  yourfelves  have  but  a  wife,  a  hufband, 
a  fon,  that  had  rather  be  any  where  than  in  your 
company,  and  is  never  fo  merry  as  when  furtheft  from 
you,  would  you  not  take  it  ill  yourfelves  ?  Why  fo 
mud  our  God  needs  do.  For  what  do  we  but  lay 
thefe  things  in  one  end  of  the  balance,  and  God  in 
the  other,  and  foolifhly  prefer  them  before  him  ?  As 
Elkanah  faid  to  Hannah^  Am  not  I  better  to  thee  than 
ten  sons  ?  So  when  we  are  longing*  after  creatures,  we 
may  hear  God  fay,  am  not  I  better  than  all  the  cre^" 
ture?  to  thee  ? 


262  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

2.  Confider  how  thot  contradidlefl  the  end  of  God 
in  giving  thefc  things.  He  gave  them  to  liclp  thee 
to  him,  and  doft  thou  take  up  "with  them  in  his 
ftead  ?  He  gave  them  that  they  might  be  rcfrcfhments 
in  thy  journey  ;  and  woiildfl  thou  now  dwell  in  thy 
inn,  and  go  no  further?  Thou  doft  not  only  contra- 
dicl  God  herein,  but  lofeft  that  benefit  which  thou 
n^.ighteft  receive  by  them,  yea,  and  makeft  them  thy 
great  hurt  and  hinderance.  Surely,  it  may  be  faid  of 
all  our  comforts  and  all  ordinances,  ar.d  the  blefledeft 
ejijoyments  in  the  church  on  earth,  as  God  faid  to 
the  Ifraelites,  of  his  ark.  Num.  x.  33.  The  ark  of  the 
tovenant  ivent  before  theui,  to  search  out  for  them  a 
restijig-place.  So  do  all  God's  mercies  here.  They  are 
not  that  reft,  (as  John  prolelTcth  he  was  not  the  Chrift) 
but  they  are  voices  crying  in  this  wilderneis,  to  bid 
us  prepare  ;  for  the  kingdem  of  God,  our  true  reft, 
is  at  hand.  Therefore  to  reft  here,  were  to  turn  all 
jsercies  clean  contrary  to  their  own  ends,  and  our  own 
advantages,  and  to  deftroy  ourfelves  with  that  which 
fliould  help  us. 

3.  Confider,  whether  it  be  not  the  moft  probable 
way  to  caufe  God,  either,  drft,  to  deny  thole  mer- 
(.ii.'s  which  v.e  defire  ;  or,  fecondly,  to  take  from  us 
ihele  which  we  enjoy  ;  or,  thirdly,  to  imbitter  them, 
or  curfe  them  to  v.s  i"  Certainly,  God  is  no  where  fo 
jealous  as  here  :  if  you  had  a  fervant  v/homyour  wife 
i)ved  better  than  (he  didyourfjlf,  would  you  not  take 
it  ill  of  fuch  a  wife,  and  rid  your  houje  of  fuch  a  fer- 
v«int?  Why  fo,  if  the  Lord  fee  you  begin  to  fettle  in 
the  wojld,  aiid  fay,  litre  I  will  reft,  no  wonder  if  he 
foon  in  hi:;  jtJilouly  unfettle  you.  If  he  love  you,  no 
wonder  if  he  rukc  that  from  yuu  wherewith  he  fees  you 
about    to  dfc-Uroy    yourfelves. 

J'l  hath  been  lojig  my  obfcrvation  of  many,  that 
wlie-u  ttu-"  have  attempted  great  works,  and  iiavejufl: 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  263 

fiiuQied  them;  or  have  ahned  at  great  things  in  the 
Avoild,  and  have  juft  obtained  them  :  or  liave  lived 
in  much  trouble,  and  juft  come  to  begin  with  fome 
content  to  look  npon  their  condition,  and  reft  in  it, 
they  are  near  to  diath  and  ruin.  When  a  man  is 
once  at  this  language,  Soul^  take  thy  ease  ;  the  r.ext 
news  ufuallyis,  ThoufooU  this  nighty  or  this  month, 
or  this  year,  shall  thy  soul  be  required  of  thee^  and  then 
whose  shall  these  things  be  !  O  what  houfe  is  there 
where  this  fool  dwelleth  not  ?  Let  you  and  I  conl'ider, 
whether  this  be  not  our  own  cafe.  Have  not  I  after 
fuch  an  unfettled  life,  and  after  fo  many  longings 
and  prayers  for  thefe  days  1  Have  not  I  thoHght  of 
them  with  too  much  content,  and  been  ready  to  fay, 
Soul-,  take  thy  rest  ?  Have  not  I  comforted  myfelf  more 
in  the  fore-thoughts  of  enjoying  thefe,  than  of  com- 
ing to  heaven,  and  enjoying  God  ?  What  wonder 
then  if  God  cut  mt  off,  when  I  am  juft  fitting  down 
in  this  fuppofed  reft:  ?  And  hath  not  the  like  been 
your  condition  ?  Many  of  you  have  been  foldiers, 
driven  from  houfe  and  home,  endured  a  life  of  trou- 
ble and  blood,  been  deprived  of  miniftry  and  means  : 
did  you  not  reckon  up  all  the  comforts  you  fliould 
have  at  your  return  ;  and  gladen  your  hearts  with  fuch 
thoughts,  more  than  with  the  thoughts  of  your  com- 
ing to  heaven  ?  Why,  what  wonder  if  God  now  crofs 
you,  and  turn  fome  of  your  joy  into  fadnefs?  Many 
a  fervant  of  God  hath  been  deftroyed  from  thie  earth, 
by  being  over-valued  and  over-loved.  I  pray  God 
you  may  take  warning  for  the  time  to  come,  that  you 
rob  not  yourfelvcs  of  all  your  mercies.  I  am  per- 
fuaded  our  dlfcontents  and  murmurings  are  not  fo 
provoking  to  God,  nor  fo  deftru(5live  to  the  finner, 
as  our  too  fweet  enjoying,  and  reft  of  fpirit,  in  a 
pleafing  fta'.e.  If  God  hath  croiTed  any  of  you  in 
wife,  children,  goods,  friends,  either  by  taking  them 
from  you,  or  the  comfort  of  them  :  try  whether  this 
be  not  the  caufe  jfor  whercfoever  your  defires   ftop, 


264  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest* 

and  you  fay,  now  I  am  well  ;  that  condition  yoi! 
make  your  god,  and  engage  the  jealoufy  of  God 
againft  it.  Whether  you  be  friends  to  God  or  ene* 
mies,  you  can  never  expeft  that  God  fliould  fiiffcr 
you  quietly  to  enjoy  your  idols. 

4.  Confidcr,  if  G«d  fhould  fuffer  thee  thus  to  take 
np  thy  reft  here,  it  were  one  of  the  greateft  curfes  that 
could  befal  thee  :  it  vrere  better  for  thee  if  thou  never 
Jiadft  a  day  of  cafe  in  the  world  ;  for  then  wearinefs 
might  make  thee  feek  after  true  reft.  Ewt  if  he  ftiould 
fuffer  thee  to  fit  down  and  reft  here,  where  were  thy 
reft  when  this  deceives  thee  ?  A  reftlefs  wretch  thou 
wouldft  be  through  all  eternity.  To  have  their  good 
things  on  the  earth,  is  the  lot  of  the  moft  miferablc 
perifhing  finners.  Doth  it  become  chriftians  then  to 
expeft  fo  much  here  ?  Our  reft  is  our  heaven  ;  and 
where  we  take  our  reft,  there  we  make  our  heaven  : 
and  wouldft  thou  have  but  fuch  a  heaven  as  this  ?  It 
will  be  but  as  a  handful  of  waters  to  a  man  that  is 
drowning,  which  will  help  to  dcftroy,  but  not  to  favc 
him. 

5.  Coniider  thou  feekeft  reft  where  it  is  not  to  be 
found,  and  fo  wilt  lofe  all  thy  labour.  I  think  I 
flirdl  eafdy  evince  this  by  thefe  clear  demonftrations 
following  : 

Fir  St  J  Our  reft  is  only  in  the  full  obtaining  our  ulti- 
mate end  ;  but  that  is  not  to  be  expefted  in  this  life. 
Is  God  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  be  ft  reformed  church 
here,  as  he  is  in  heaven  ?  You  confefs  he  is  not  ;  how 
little  of  God,  (not  only)  the  multitude  of  the  blind 
world,  but  fometlmes  the  faints  themfelvcs  enjoy  i 
And  how  poor  comforters  are  the  beft  ordinances  and 
enjoyments  without  God  1  Should  a  traveller  take  up 
his  reft  in  the  v.'ay  ?  No,  becaufe  his  home  is  his  jour- 
ney's end.  When  you  have  all  that  creatures  and  means 


The  Saints'  Ever/asiin^  Rest.  ZGS 

fan  afford,  have  you  tliat  you  fought  for  ?  Have  you 
that  you  believe,  pr?-y,  fulVcr  for  ?  I  think  yi>u  dare 
not  fay  fo.  Why  then  do  we  once  dream  of  refling 
here  ?  We  are  like  little  children  flrayed  from  home  j 
and  God  is  now  fetching  us  home  ;  and  we  arc  ready 
to  turn  into  any  houfe,  ftay  and  play  with  every  thing 
in  our  way,  and  lit  down  on  every  green  bank,  and 
■much  ddo  there  is  to  get  us  home. 

Secondly^  As  we  have  not  yet  obtained  our  end,  fo 
ire  we  in  the  midft  of  labours  and  dangers  ;  and  is 
there  any  refting  here  ?  What  painful  work  doth  lie 
upon  our  hands  1  Look  to  our  brethren,  to  our  fouls, 
to  God  ;  and  what  a  deal  of  work  in  refpeifl  of  each 
of  thefe,  doth  lie  before  us  I  And  can  we  reft  in  our 
labours  ?  Indeed  we  may  eafc  ourfelves  fometimes  in 
our  troubles  ;  but  that  is  not  the  rcfl  w*  are  now 
fpeaking  of  ;  we  may  refl:  on  earth,  as  the  ark  is  fa;d/ 
to  red  in  the  midit  of  Jordan,  Jofli.  iii.  13.  Or  as 
the  angels  of  heaven  are  delired  to  turn  in,  and  reft 
them  on  earth,  Gen.  xviii.  4.  They  would  have  been 
loth  to  have  taken  up  their  dwelling  there.  Should 
liVael  have  fettled  his  refl:  in  the  wildernefs,  among 
ferpents,  and  enemies,  and  wearinefs,  and  famine  ? 
Should  Noah  have  made  the  ark  his  hon  c,  and  been 
loth  to  come  forth  when  the  waters  were  fallen  ? 
Should  the  mariner  choole  his  dwelling  on  the  fea, 
and  fettle  his  refl  in  the  midft  of  recks,  and  fands,  and 
tempsfts.  Though  he  may  adventure  through  all  thefe, 
for  a  commodity  of  worth  :  yet  I  think  he  takes  it 
not  for  his  refl:.  Should  a  foldier  refl:  in  the  micUl  of 
fight  when  he  is  in  the  very  thickcfl:  of  his  enemies  ? 
And  are  not  chriftians  fuch  travellers,  fach  m^.r  iieis> 
fuch  foldieri  ?  Have  you  not  fears  within,  and  trou» 
bles  without  ?  Are  we  not  in  the  thickeft  of  contniual 
dangers?  We  cannot  eat,  drink,  fleep,  labour,  pray, 
hear  or  confer,  but  in  the  midfl  of  fnares  ;  and  fhall 
we  fit  down  and  r«fl  here  ?  O  chri;1iiin,  follow  thy 
Z 


266  The  Saints''  Everlasting  ^est, 

work,  look  to  thy  danger,  bold  on  to  the  end  ;  win 
the  field  and  come  off  the  gronnd,  before  you  think 
of  fettling  to  reft.  1  read  that  Chtift,  when  he  was  on 
the  crofs,  comforted  the  converted  thief  with  this, 
This  day  shalt  thou  be  ivitJi  me  in  paradise  :  but  if  he 
had  only  comforted  him  with  telling  him,  that  he 
fhould  refl  thereon  the  crofs,  would  he  not  have  taken 
it  for  a  dcrilion  ?  Methinks  it  Ihould  be  ill  refting  in 
the  midfl  of  i-ickneffes  and  pains,  perfecition  and  dif- 
treffes  ;  one  would  think  it  jQiculd  be  no  contented 
dwelling  for  lan^.bs  among  wolves.  I  fay  therefore  to 
every  one  that  thinketh  of  reft  on  earth,  Arise  ye^ 
depart^  this  is  not  jour  rest, 

6.  Confult  with  experience,  both  other  men's  and 
your  own  ;  many  thoufands  have  made  trial,  but  did 
ever  one  of  thefe  find  a  fufHcient  refl  for  his  foul  on 
earth  ?  Delights  I  deny  not  but  they  have  found  ;  but 
reft  and  fatisfadion  they  never  found  :  and  fliall  we 
think  to  find  that  which  never  man  could  find  before 
us  ?  Ahab's  kingdom  is  nothing  to  him,  except  he  had 
alfo  Naboth's  vineyard,  and  did  that  fatisfy  him  when 
he  had  obtained  it?  If  we  had  conquered  the  whole 
Avorld,  we  Ibould  perhaps  do  as  Alexander,  fit  down 
and  weep,  becaufe  there  was  never  another  world  to 
CGiiiqucr.  Go  afk  hsnor,  is  there  reft  here  ?  Why 
you  may  as  well  reft  on  the  top  of  the  tempeftuous 
mountains,  or  in  Etna's  flames.  Afk  riches,  is  there 
reft  here  ?  Even  fuch  as  is  in  abed  of  thorns.  En^uiie 
of  worldly  pleafure  and  cafe,  can  they  give  you  any 
tidings  of  true  reft  ?  Even  fuch  as  the  fiih  in  fwallow- 
ing  the  bait  ;  when  the  pleafure  is  fweeteft,  death  is 
the  ne  areft.  Such  is  the  reft  that  all  worldly  pleafures 
afford.  Go  to  learning,  to  the  purtft,  plentifulleft, 
powerfulleft  ordinances,  or  compafs  fea  and  land  to 
find  out  the  moll  perfeft  church  ;  and  enquire  whether 
there  your  foul  may  reft  ?  You  might  haply  receive 
from  thcfc  an  olive  branch  of  hope,  as  they  are  means 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  R&st.  267 

to  your  reft,  and  have  relation  to  eternity  ;  but  in  rc# 
gnrd  of  any  fatisfaction  in  thenifelves,  you  would  re- 
main as  reftlcfs  as  ever.  O  how  well  might  all  thefe 
anfwer  us,  as  Jacob  did  Rachel,  Am  I  instead  of  God? 
So  may  the  higheft  perfedllons  on  earth  fay,  are  we 
iaftead  of  God  ?  Go  take  a  view  of  all  eflates  of  men 
in  the  world,  and  fee  whether  any  of  them  have  found 
this  rtrfl.  Go  to  the  huA^andman,  behold  his  endlefs 
labours,  his  continual  care  and  toil,  and  wearinefs, 
and  you  will  eafily  fee,  tl\at  there  is  ro  reft  ;  go  ta 
the  tradefman,  and  you  fli;ill  find  the  like  :  if  I  Ihould 
fend  you  lower,  yoH  would  judge  your  labour  loft: 
go  to  the  painful  minifter,  and  there  you  will  yet 
more  eafily  be  fatisfied  ;  for  though  his  fpending,  end- 
lefs labours  are  exceeding  fweet,  yet  it  is  not  becaufe 
they  arc  his  reft,  but  in  reference  to  his  people's,  and 
his  own  eternal  reft  ;  if  you  would  afcend  to  magif- 
tracy,  and  enquire  at  the  throne,  you  would  find  there 
is  no  condition  fo  reftlefs.  Doubthfs  neither  court, 
nor  country,  towns  or  cities,  fliops  or  fields,  treafuries, 
libraries,  folitarinefs,  focif::ty,  Iludies,  or  pulpits,  can. 
afford  any  fuch  thing  as  this  reft.  If  you  could  en- 
quire of  the  dead  of  all  generations,  or  if  you  could 
afk  the  living  through  all  dominions,  they  would  all 
tell  you,  here  is  no  reft:  and  all  mankind  may  fay, 
All  our  days  are  sorrow,  and  our  labour  is  gri?f^  and 


If  other  men's  experience  move  you  not,  do  but 
take  a  view  of  your  own  :  can  you  ren:cmber  the  ef- 
tate  that  did  fully  fatisfy  you  ?  Or  if  you  could,  will 
it  prove. ^  lafting  ftate  ?  For  my  own  part,  I  have  run 
through  feveral  ftates  of  life,  and  though  I  j^everhad 
the  neceflities  which  might  occafion  diiccntent,  yet 
did  I  never  find  a  fettlement  for  my  foul  ;  and  I  be- 
lieve we  may  all  fay  of  our  reft,  as  Paul  of  our  hopes, 
If  it  fivere  in  this  lifi^  only,  ive  were  of  all  men  must 
misirable.  If  then  either  fcripture,  or  reafon,  or  the 


S68  ^Thc  Sainta'^  Everktsthig  B^st, 

experience  of  ourfelvcs,  and  all  tiie  world  will  fatisf/" 
us,  v/e  may  fee  there  is  no  u  fting  here.  And  yet 
how  guilty  are  the  generality  of  us  of  this  fin  I  How 
maiiy  halts  and  flops  do  we  n.ake,  before  we  will 
make  the  Loid  our  reft  1  Flow  muft  God  even  drive 
us,  and  fire  us  out  of  every  condition,  led  we  fliould 
fit  down  and  reft  there  !  Jf  he  give  us  profperity, 
riches,  or  honor,  we  do  in  our  hearts  dance  before 
them,  as  the  Ifraeliles  before  their  calf,  and  fay,  These 
ere  our gcds^  aad  conclude  it  is  good  being  here.  If 
he  imbitter  all  thefe  to  us  bycrofTes,  how  do  we  ftrivc 
to  have  the  crofs  removed,  and  are  refllefs  till  our 
condition  be  fwecteneJ  to  us,  tliat  we  may  fit  down 
again  and  reft  where  w^e  were  ?  If  the  Lord,  feeing 
our  pervcjfencfs,  fliall  now  proceed  in  the  cure,  and 
take  th«  creature  quite  away,  then  how  do  we  labour, 
ftud  care,  and  cry,  and  pray,  that  God  would  reftorc 
it,  that  we  may  make  it  our  reft  again  !  And  while 
Tre  are  deprived  of  its  enjoyment,  and  have  not  our 
former  idul,  yet  rather  than  come  to  God,  we  de- 
light ourfelves  in  our  hopes  of  recovering  our  form- 
er ftate  ;  and  as  long  as  there  is  the  leaft  likelihood  of 
obtaining  it,  we  make  thofe  very  hopes  our  reft  :  if 
the  poor  by  labouring  all  their  days,  have  but  hopefi 
of  a  fuller  eftate  when  they  are  old  (though  an  hun- 
dred to  one  they  die  before  they  have  oinained  it)  yet 
do  they  reft  themfelves  on  thofe  expeftations.  Or  if 
God  doth  take  away  both  prefent  enjoyments,  and 
all  hopes  of  recovering  them,  how  dx)  we  fearch  about 
f:-om  creatit»e  to  creature,  to  find  out  fomething  to 
fupply  the  room,  and  to  fettle  upon  inftead  thereof] 
Yea,  if  we  can  fmd  no  fupply,  but  are  fure  we  fliall 
live  in  poverty,  in  ficki.efs,  in  difgrace,  while  we 
are  on  earth,  yet  will  we  rather  fettle  in  this  mifery, 
and  make  a  reft  of  a  wretched  being,  than  wc  will 
leave  all  and  come  to  God. 


The  Samts''  Everlasting  Rest,  269 

A  man  would  think,  that  a  nmltitude  of  poor 
people,  who  beg  their  bread,  or  can  Icaice  with  their 
hardefl  labour  have  fuftenance  for  their  lives,  fliould 
eafily  be  driven  from  refting  here,  and  willingly 
look  to  heaven  for  veil  ;  and  the  lick,  v.  ho  have  not 
a  day  of  eafe,  or  any  hope  of  recovery  left  them. 
But  O  the  curfcd  averfenefs  of  our  ibuls  from  God  I 
We  will  rather  account  our  mifery  our  happinefs,  yea 
that  which  we  daily  groan  under  as  intolerable,  than 
wc  will  take  up  our  happinefs  in  Gcd.  If  any  place 
in  hell  were  tolerable,  the  foul  would  rather  take  up 
it;  reft  there,  than  come  to  God.  Yea,  when  he  is 
bringing  us  over  to  him,  and  hath  convinced  us  of 
the  worth  of  his  ways  and  fervice,  the  laft  deceit  of 
all  is  here,  we  will  rather  fettle  upon  thole  ways  that 
lead  to  him,  and  thole  ordinances  that  fpeak  of  him, 
aiid  thofe  gifts  which  flow  from  him,  than  we  will 
come  clean  over  to  himfelf. 

Marvel  not  that  I  fpeak  fo  much  of  refting  in  thefe  ; 
beware  left  it  prove  thy  own  cafe  :  I  fuppole  thou  arr 
ib  convinced  of  the  vanity  of  riches  and  honor,  and 
plealure,  that  thou  can  ft  more  eaftly  difclaim  thefe  : 
but  for  thy  fpiritual  helps,  thou  lookeft  on  thefe  with 
lefs  fafpicicn,  and  tl.inkeft  thou  canft  not  delight  in 
them  too  much,  efpcciaily  feeing  moft  of  the  world 
defpife  them,  or  delight  in  them  too  little.  But  doth 
not  the  increafe  of  tliole  helps  dull  thy  longings  after 
heaven  ?  I  know  the  means  of  grace  muft  be;  loved 
and  valued;  and  he  that  delighteth  in  any  worldly 
thing  more  than  in  them,  is  not  a  chriftian  :  but 
when  wc  are  content  with  duty  inftead  of  God,  and 
hid  rather  be  at  a  fernion  than  in  iieaven  ;  and  a  mem- 
ber of  a  church  here,  than  of  that  perfcft  church,  and 
rejoice  in  ordinances  but  as  they  arepartcf  our  earth- 
ly profperity  ;  this  is  a  fad  miftake. 
Z  2 


2T0  The  SointiP  Everlasting  Re»t, 

So  far  rejoice  in  the  creature  as  it  comes  from  G©cl, 
cr  leads  to  him,  or  brings  thee  fome  report  of  his 
love  ;  fo  far  let  thy  foul  take  comfort  in  ordinances 
as  God  doth  accompany  them,  or  gives  himfelf  unto 
thy  foul  by  them  :  dill  remembering,  when  thou  haft 
even  what  thou  dofl  moft  defire,  yet  this  is  not  hea- 
ven ;  yet  thefe  are  but  the  firft  fruits.  It  is  not  encugk 
that  God  alloweth  us  all  the  comfort  of  travellers, 
and  accordingly  to  rejoice  in  all  his  mercies,  but  "w* 
muft  fct  up  our  {{alTas  if  we  are  at  home.  While 
we  are  atprefentin  the  body,  we  are  abfent  from  the 
Lord  ;  and  while  we  are  abfent  from  him,  we  are 
abfent  from  our  reft.  If  God  were  as  willing  to  be 
abfent  from  us,  as  we  from  him,  and  if  he  were  as 
loth  to  be  our  reft,  as  we  are  loth  to  reft  in  him, 
we  ftit)uld  be  left  to  an  eternal  rcftlefs  fq  aration,  la 
a  word,  as  you  are  fenfibie  of  the  fjnfulnels  of  your 
earthly  difcontents,  fo  be  you  alfo  of  your  irregular 
contents,  and  pray  God  to  pardon  them  much  more. 
And  above  all  the  plagues  and  judgments  of  God  on 
this  fide  hell,  fee  that  you  watch  and  pray  againft 
this  [of  fettling  any  where  ftiort  of  heaven,  or  repof- 
ing  your  fouls  on  any  thing  below  God.]  Or  elfe, 
v/hen  the  bough  which  you  tread  on  breaks,  and  the 
things  which  you  reft  upon  deceive  you,  you  will 
perceive  your  labour  all  left,  and  ycur  higheft  hopes 
will  make  you  aOiamed.  Try  if  you  can  perfuade 
Satan  to  leave  tempting,  and  the  world  to  ceafe  trou- 
bling and  feducing  ;  if  you  can  bring  the  glory  of 
God  from  above,  or  remove  the  court  from  heaven  to 
earth,  and  fecure  the  continuance  of  this  through  eter- 
nity, thiju  fettle  youru'Ivcs  below,  and  fay,  Soul,  take 
thy  reft  here  ;  but  till  then  admit  not  fuch  a  thou^jht. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  271 

CHAP.     II. 

3 fo fives  to  Heavenly-mindedness, 

WE  have  now  by  tlie  guidance  cf  tlie  word  of 
the  I,ord,  and  by  the  ainftance  of  his  Spirit, 
fliewc'J  you  tlie  nature  of  the  reft  of  the  faints  ;  and 
acquainted  you  with  fome  duties  in  relation  thereto  : 
We  come  now  to  the  clofe  of  all,  to  prefs  you  to  the 
great  duty  which  I  chiefly  intended  when  I  begau 
this  fubjecl. 

Is  there  a  reft,  and  fuch  a  reft  remaining  for  us  ? 
Why  then  are  our  thoughts  no  more  up(ni  it  ?  Wiiy 
are  not  our  hearts  continually  there  ?  Wliy  dwell  we 
not  tht-re  in  conftant  contemplation  ?  Aflc  youi  hearts 
in  good  earneft,  What  is  the  cauie  of  this  negled  ? 
Hath  the  eternal  God  provided  us  fuck  a  glory,  and 
promifed  to  take  us  up  to  dwell  with  liimftlf  ?  And 
is  not  this  worth  the  thinking  on  ?  Should  not  the 
ftrongcft  defires  of  our  hearts  be  after  it  :  and  the  dai- 
ly delights  of  our  fouls  be  there  ?  Can  we  forget  and 
neglecl  it  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Will  not  God  give 
us  leave  to  approacii  this  light  ?  Or  will  he  not  I'ufFer 
our  fouls  to  tafle  and  fee  it  ?  Then  what  mean  all  his 
earneft  invitations  ?  Why  doih  he  fo  condemn  our 
earthly-mindedncis,  and  command  u£  to  fct  our  af- 
feitlions  abore  i  If  the  fore-thoughts  cf  glory  were 
forbidden  fj  uits,  perhaps  we  fhould  be  fooncr  drawn 
unto  them.  Sure  I  am,  where  God  hath  fcrbidden 
us  to  place  our  thoughts  and  our  delights,  thither  it 
is  ealy  enough  to  draw  them.  If  he  fay,  love  not 
the  world,  nor  the  things  of  the  world,  we  doat  up- 
on it  neverthelefs.  iiow  unweariedly  can  we  tliink 
of  vanity,  and  day  after  day  employ  our  minds  about 
it  1  And  have  wc  no  thoughts  of  this  our  reft?   Hov/ 


2^2  The  Sciintii''  EverlaGting  Rest. 

freely  and  how  frecueiitly  can  we  think  of  our  plea- 
fures,  our  friends-,  our  labours,  our  flefli,  our  ftudies, 
our  news  ;  yea,  our  very  miferies,  our  wrongs,  our 
fuflff rings,  and  our  fears  1  But  \Nhere  is  the  chrifliaa 
Avhofe  heart  is  on  this  reft  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Why 
arc  we  not  taken  up  with  tlie  views  of  glory,  and 
our  fouls  more  accuitomed  to  thefe  delightful  medita- 
tions? Are  we  fo  full  of  joy  that  we  need  no  more  ; 
or  is  there  no  matter  in  heaven  for  our  joyous  thoughts, 
or  rather,  are  not  our  hearts  carnal  and  blockifli  ? 
Eartli  will  tend  to  earth.  Had  we  more  fpirit,  it 
would  be  otherwife  with  us.  As  St.  Auguflin  caft  by 
Cicero's  writings,  becaufe  they  contained  not  the  name 
of  Jefus  ;  fo  let  us  humble  and  cafi  down  thefe  fen- 
fual  hearts,  that  have  in  them  no  more  of  Chrift  and 
glory.  As  Y/e  fliould  not  own  our  duties  any  further 
than  fomewhat  of  Chrift  is  in  them,  fo  fhould  we  no 
further  own  our  hearts  :  and  as  we  fliould  delight  in 
the  creatures  no  longer  than  they  have  reference  to 
Chrift  and  eternity,  fo  no  further  fhould  we  approve 
cf  our  own  hearts.  Why  did  Chrift  pronounce  his 
difclples'  eyes  and  ears  bleffed,  but  as  they  were  the 
doors  to  let  In  Chrift  by  his  works  and  words  into 
their  heart  ?  Blefted  are  the  eyes  that  fo  fee,  and  the 
cars  that  fo  liear,  that  the  heart  is  thereby  raifed  to 
this  heavely  frame.  Sirs,  fo  much  of  your  hearts  as 
is  empty  of  Chrift  and  heaven,  let  it  be  filled  with 
fhame  and  forrow,  and  not  with  eafe. 

But  let  me  turn  my  reprehenfion  to  exhortation, 
that  vou  would  turn  this  conviction  into  reformation. 
And  I  have  the  more  hope,  becaufe  I  here  addrefs 
myfelf  to  men  of  confcience',  that  dare  not  wilfully 
difobey  God  ;  yea,  becaufe  to  m.en  whofe  portion  is 
there,  Avhofe  hopes  are  there,  and  who  have  fcrfaken 
all,  that  they  may  enjoy  this  gloiy  ;  and  fiiall  1  be  dif- 
couraged  from  perfuading  fuch  to  be  heavenly  mind- 
ed ?  if  yoU  will  not  hear  and  obey,  who  will  ?   Who- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  ^7'^ 

ever  thou  art  there- fore  that  readeft  thefe  lines,  I  re- 
quire thee,  as  thou  tendered  thine  allegiance  to  the 
God  of  heaven,  as  ever  thou  hopeft  for  a  part  in  this 
glory,  that  thou  prefently  take  thy  heart  to  tafk  ; 
chide  it  for  its  wilful  flrangenefs  to  God  ;  turn  thy 
thought  from  the  purfuit  of  vanity,  bend  thy  foul  to 
ftudy  eternity  ;  habituate  thyiclf  to  fuch  contempla- 
tions, and  let  not  thofe  thoughts  be  fcldom  and  cur- 
fory,  but  fettle  upon  them  ;  dwell  here,  bathe  thy 
foul  in  heaven's  delights  ;  drench  thine  aff^'£lions  in 
thefe  rivers  of  plfufure  ;  and  if  thy  backward  foul 
begin  to  flag',  and  thy  thoughts  to  fly  abroad,  call 
them  back,  hold  th'?m  to  their  work,  ^ut  them  on, 
bear  not  with  their  lazinefs  ;  and  when  thou  haft 
once  tried  this  work,  and  followed  on  till  thou  haft 
got  acquainted  with  it,  and  kept  a  clofe  *-uard  upon 
thy  thoughts  till  they  are  accuftomed  to  obey,  thou 
wilt  then  find  thyfelf  in  the  fuburbs  of  heaven,  and 
as  it  were  in  a  new  world  ;  thou  wilt  then  find  that 
there  is  fweetnefs  in  the  work  and  way  of  God,  and 
that  the  life  of  chrlftianity  is  a  life  of  joy  :  thou  wilt 
meet  with  thofe  abundant  confolations  which  thow 
haft  prayed,  and  panted,  and  groaned  after,  and 
which  fo  few  chriftians  obtain,  becaufe  they  know 
not  the  way  to  them,  or  eUe  make  not  confcience  of 
walking  in  it. 

You  fee  the  work  now  before  you  ;  this,  this  \s 
that  I  would  fain  perfuade  you  to  pra6liie :  let  me  be- 
fpeak  your  confciences  in  the  name  of  Chrift,  and 
command  you  by  the  authority  I  have  received  from 
Chrift,  that  you  faithfully  fet  upon  this  duty,  and  fix 
your  eye  more  fteadfaftly  on  your  reft.  Do  not  won- 
der that  I  perfuade  you  fo  earnePcly  ;  though  indeed 
if  wc  were  truly  reafonable  men,  it  would  be  a  won- 
der that  men  fliould  need  fo  much  pcrfuafion  to  fo 
fweet  and  plain  a  duty:  but  I  know  the  employment 
is  high,  the  heart  is  eartkly,  aud  vv-ill  ftill  draw  back  ; 


274  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest. 

the  temptations  and  bindcrances  will  be  many  and 
great,  and  therefore  I  fear  all  thefe  perfuafions  are  lit- 
tle enough:  fay  not,  We  arc  unable  to  fet  our  own 
hearts  on  heaven,  this  mufl  be  the  woik  of  God: 
therefore  all  your  exhortation  is  in  vain.  I  tell  you, 
though  God  be  the  chief  dif]>-)fer  of  your  hearts,  yet 
next  under  him  you  have  the  greateft  command  of 
them  yourfelves,  and  a  great  power  in  the  ordering 
of  your  own  thoughts,  and  determining  your  own 
•wills  :  though  without  Chrifl  you  can  do  nothing, 
yet  under  him  you  may  do  much,  and  mufl  do  much, 
or  elfe  you  will  be  undone  through  your  negledl :  do 
your  own  parts,  and  you  have  no  caufe  to  dillruli 
whether  Chrift  will  do  hi*. 

I  will  here  lay  down  feme  confiderations,  which 
if  you  will  but  deliberately  weigh  with  an  impartial 
judgment,  I  doubt  not  will  prove  effeftual  with  your 
hearts,  and  make  you  refolve  upon  this  excellent  duty. 

1.  ConGder,  a  heart  fct  upon  heaven,  will  be  one 
of  the  moft  un(juell;ionable  evidences  of  a  true  work 
of  faving  grace  upon  thy  foul.  Would  you  have  a 
fign  infallible,  not  from  me,  or  fiom  the  mouth  of 
any  man,  bat  from  the  mouth  of  Jefus  Chrift  himielt^ 
which  all  the  enemies  of  the  ufe  of  marks  can  lay  no 
exceptions  againft  ?  Why  here  is  fuch  a  one,  Matt. 
vi.  2  1.  W Iter e your  treasure  is^  there  iv ill  your  heart 
be  also.  Ki5ow  once  affurcdly  where  your  heart  is,  and 
you  may  cafily  know  that  your  treafnre  is  there. 
God  16  the  IViints'  treafnre  and  happinefs  :  heaven  is 
the  place  where  they  fully  tnjoy  him  :  a  heari  there- 
fore fet  upon  heaven,  is  no  more  but  a  heart  fct  upon 
God,  deii:ing  this  full  enjoyment  :  and  I'urely  a 
heart  fct  upon  God  through  Chrifl,  is  the  trued  evi- 
dence of  fuving  grace.  External  actions  are  ths  e.i- 
fieft  dllV.cvered  ;  but  thole  of  the  heart  are  the  furefl 
evidences.      When  thv  learning  will  be  no  good  proof 


The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest.  2T5 

ofthygrace;  when  thy  knowledge,  thy  duties,  and 
thy  gifts  will  fail  thee,  when  arguments  from  thy 
tongue  and  thy  hand  may  be  confuted  :  then  will  this 
argument  from  the  bent  of  thy  heart  prove  thee  lin- 
cere.  Take  a  poor  chrillian  that  can  fcarce  fpeak 
Englifli  about  religion,  that  hath  a  weak  underltand- 
ing,  a  failing  memory,  a  ftammering  tongue,  yet  liis 
heart  is  fet  en  God,  he  hath  chofen  him  for  his  por- 
tion, his  thoughts  are  on  eternity,  his  defires  there, 
his  dwelling  there  :  he  cries  out,  O  that  T  r/ere  there  I 
he  takes  that  day  for  a  time  of  imprifonmcnt,  where- 
in he  hath  not  taken  one  refrelhing  riew  of  eternity. 
I  had  rather  die  in  this  man's  condition,  than  in  the 
cafe  of  him  that  hath  the  mod  eminent  gifts,  and  is 
mod  admired  for  parts  and  duty,  whole  heart  is  not 
taken  up  with  God.  The  man  that  Chrifl  will  find 
out  at  the  hill  day,  and  condemn  for  want  of  a  wed- 
ding-garment, will  be  him  that  wants  this  frame  of 
heart.  The  queflion  will  not  then  be,  how  much 
you  have  known  or  talked  ?  but,  how  much  have  you 
loved,  and  where  was  your  heart?  Why  then,  as  you 
'would  have  a  fure  telHmony  of  the  love  of  God,  and 
a  iure  proof  of  your  title  to  gloiy,  labour  to  get  your 
hearts  above.  God  will  acknowledge  you  love  him, 
when  he  fees  your  liearts  are  fet  upon  him.  Get  but 
your  hearts  once  truly  in  heaven,  and  without  all 
queftion  yourfelves  will  follow.  If  fin  and  latan  keep 
not  thence  your  atre(ftions,  they  will  never  be  able  to 
keep  away  your  perfons. 

2.  Confider,  a  heavenly  mind  is  a  joyful  mind  : 
this  is  the  nearePi  and  the  truefl  way  to  comfort  ;  and 
without  this  you  mult  needs  be  uncomfortable.  Can 
a  man  be  at  the  fire,  and  not  be  warm  ?  or  in  the 
funfhine,  and  not  have  light;  Can  your  heart  be  in 
heaven,  and  not  have  comfort  ?  What  could  make 
fuch  frozen  uncomfortable  chriilians,  but  living  fo  far 
!is    they  do  from  heaven  ?  And  what   makes  others  fo 


276  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

•warm  in  comforts,  but  their  frequent  accefs  fo  near 
to  God  ?  When  the  fun  in  the  fpring  draws  near  our 
part  of  the  earth,  how  do  all  things  congrattilate  it^ 
approach  !  The  earth  looks  green  and  calleth  off  her 
mourning  habit  ;  the  trees  (hoot  forth  ;  the  plants 
revive  ;  the  birds  fing  ;  the  face  of  all  things  fmiles 
upon  us,  and  all  the  creatures  below  rejoice.  If  we 
T/ould  but  keep  thefe  hearts  above,  what  a  fpring 
would  be  within  03  ;  and  all  our  graces  be  fre{h  and 
green  !  How  would  the  face  of  our  fouls  be  changed, 
and  all  that  is  within  us  rejoice  !  How  fliould  wc 
forget  our  winter-forrows,  and  withdraw  our  fouls 
from  our  fad  retirements!  How  early  fhould  we  rife 
(as  thofe  birds  in  the  fpring)  to  fing  the  praife  of  our 
great  Creator'  O  chrift;an  I  get  above ;  believe  it, 
that  region  is  v/armer  than  this  below.  7'hofe  that 
have  been  there  have  found  it  fo,  and  thofe  that  have 
come  thence  have  told  us  fo  ;  and  I  doubt  not  but 
thou  hall  fometimes  tried  it  thyfelf.  I  dare  appeal  to 
thy  own  experience  :  when  is  it  that  you  have  largefl 
comforts  ?  Is  it  not  after  fuch  an  exercife  as  this, 
when  thou  has  got  up  thy  heart,  and  converfed  with 
God,  and  talked  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  higher 
•world,  and  viewed  the  manfions  of  the  faints  and  an- 
gels, and  filled  thy  foul  with  the  fore-thoughts  of 
glory  ?  If  thou  knowefl  by  experience  what  this  prac- 
tice is,  I  dare  fay  thou  knowcft  what  fplritual  joy  is. 
If  it  be  the  countenance  of  God  that  fills  us  with  joy, 
then  they  that  moft  behold  it,  mull  be  fullefl:  of  thefc 
joys.  If  you  never  tried  this,  nor  lived  this  life  of 
heavenly  contemplation,  I  never  wonder  that  you 
valk  uncomfortably,  and  know  not  what  the  joy  of 
the  faints  means  :  can  you  have  comforts  from  God, 
and  never  think  of  him  ?  Can  heaven  rejoice  you 
-when  you  do  not  remember  it  I  Doth  any  thing  in 
the  world  gladden  you,  when  you  think  not  on  it  ? 
Whom  (hould  we  blame  then,  that  we  are  fo  void  of 
tonfolation,  but  our  own  negligent  unfkilful    heart*  ? 


Tlic  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  HTf 


Vi 


Ood  hath  provided  us  a  crown  of  glory,  and  pro- 
mifed  to  fct  it  fiiortly  on  our  heads,  and  we  will  not 
lb  much  as  think  of  it  :  he  holdeth  it  out  to  us,  and 
biddeth  us  behold  and  rejoice  ;  and  we  will  not  fo 
much  as  look  at  it.  What  a  perverfe  courfe  is  this, 
both  againO:  God  and  our  own  joys  ! 

I  confefs,  though  in  flefiily  thing?  the  prefenting  a 
comforting  objedl  is  fufiicient  to  produce  an  anfwera- 
ble  delight,  yet  in  fpirituals  we  are  more  difabled« 
God  muft  give  the  joy  itfelf,  as  well  as  alTord  us 
matter  for  joy  :  but  yet  withal,  it  muft  be  rciiiem» 
bered,  that  God  doth  work  upon  us  as  men,  and  in 
a  rational  way  doth  raife  our  comforts  :  lie  enableth 
and  exciteth  us  to  mind  thefe  delightful  objefts,  and 
from  thence  to  gather  our  own  com.forts  ;  therefore 
he  that  is  molt  fkilful  and  painful  in  this  gathering 
art,  is  ufually  the  fullefl  of  the  fpiritual  fweetnefs. 
It  is  by  believing  that  we  are  filled  with  joy  and  peace  ; 
and  no  longer  than  we  continue  our  believing.  It  is 
in  hope  that  the  faints  rejoice,  yea,  in  this  hope  of 
the  glory  of  God  :  and  no  longer  than  they  continue 
Iioping.  And  here  let  me  warn  you  of  a  dangerous 
fnare,  an  opinion  which  will  rob  you  of  all  your  com- 
fort ;  fome  think,  if  they  fliould  thus  fetch  in  their 
own  by  believing  and  hoping,  an'd  work  it  cut  of 
fcripturc-promifes  by  their  own  thinking  and  fcudy- 
ing,  then  it  would  be  a  comfort  only  of  their  ov/n 
hanmiering  out  (as  they  fay)  and-not  the  genuine  joy 
of  the  Hcly  Gliofl.  A  deiperate  mifiake,  raifed  up- 
on a  ground  that  would  overthrow  almoft  all  dut\'*, 
as  well  as  this  ;  which  is  their  fetting  the  workings 
of  God's  Spirit  and  their  own  fpirit  in  oppofition, 
when  their  fpirits  mufl:  Oandin  fubardinalionto  God's  t 
they  are  conjuA  caufes,  co-operating  to  the  produc- 
ing of  one  and  the  i'amc  effed.  God's  Spirit  work- 
cth  our  comforts  by  fetting  our  own  fpirits  at  work 
upon  the  preraifes,  and  railing  oyr  thou^'hts  to  tisc 
A  a 


278  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

place  of  our  comforts.  As  you  would  delight  a  co- 
vetous man  by  (hewing  him  money,  or  a  voluptuous 
man  with  fleflily  delights  :  fo  God  ufeth  to  delight 
his  people,  by  taking  them  as  it  were  by  the  hand, 
and  leading  them  into  heaven,  and  fliewlng  them 
himfelf,  and  tlieir  reft  with  him,  God  ufeth  not  to 
call  in  our  joys  while  we  are  idle,  or  taken  up  with 
other  things.  It  is  true,  he  fometimcs  doth  it  fud- 
denly,  but  ufually  in  the  aforefaid  order  :  and  his 
fometimes  fudden,  extraordinary  cafting  of  comfort- 
ing thoughts  in  our  hearts,  fhould  be  fo  far  from  hin- 
dering endeavours  in  a  meditating  way,  that  it  fhould 
be  a  fingular  motive  to  quicken  us  to  it  ;  even  as  a 
tafte  given  us  of  fome  cordial,  will  make  us  defire  and 
feek  the  reft.  God  fecdeth  not  faints  as  birds  do 
their  young,  bringing  it  to  them,  and  putting  it  in 
their  mouth,  while  they  lie  ftill  in  the  neft,  and  only 
gape  to  receive  It :  but  as  he  giveth  to  man  the  fruits 
©f  the  earth,  the  increafe  of  our  land  in  corn  and 
-wine,  while  we  plough  and  fow,  and  weed,  and  wa- 
ter, and  dung,  and  drefs,  and  then  with  patience  ex- 
pert his  blefling  ;  fo  doth  he  give  the  joys  of  the  fouU 
Yet  I  deny  not,  that  if  any  {hould  think  fo  to  work 
out  his  own  comforts  by  meditation,  as  to  attempt 
the  work  in  his  own  ftrength,  the  work  would  prove 
to  be  like  the  workman,  and  the  comfort  he  would 
gather  would  be  like  both  ;  even  mere  vanity  ;  even 
as  the  hufbandman's  labour  without  the  fun,  and  rain, 
and  blefling  of  God. 

So  then  you  may  eafily  fee,  that  clofe  meditation 
on  the  matter  and  caufe  of  your  joy,  is  God's  way 
to  procure  folid  joy.  For  my  part,  if  1  (hould  find 
my  joy  of  another  kind,  I  fhould  be  very  prone  to 
doubt  of  its  fincerity  If  I  find  a  great  deal  of  com- 
fort, and  know  not  how  it  came,  nor  upon  what  ra- 
tional ground  it  was  ralfed,  nor  what  confiderations 
feed  and  continue   it,  I   (hould   be  ready  to  qucftioe 


The  Saints^  EverlaaUng  Rest,  279 

whether  this  be  from  God.  Our  love  to  God  nianld. 
not  be  like  that  of  fond  lovers,  who  love  violently, 
but  they  know  not  Nvhy,  I  think  a  chriftian^s  joy 
(hould  be  rational  joy,  and  not  to  rejoice  and  know- 
not  why.  In  fomc  extraordinary  cale,  God  may  caft 
in  fuch  an  extraordin;  ry  kind  of  joy  :  yet  it  is  not  hit 
ufual  way.  And  if  you  obferve  the  fpirit  of  moll  un- 
comfortable chriflians,  you  will  find  the  reafcn  to  hz 
their  expectation  of  fuch  kind  of  joys  ;  and  according- 
ly are  thifir  fpirits  varioufly  toffcd,  and  inconftiintly 
tempered  :  wlien  they  meet  with  fuch  joys,  then  they 
are  cheerful  ^nd  lifted  up  ;  but  becaule  thcfe  are  usu- 
ally fhort-liv^d,  therefore  thiy  are  llraight  as  low  a? 
hell.  And  thus  thty  are  toITcd  as  a  vcfftl  at  fea,  up 
and  down,  but  ftill  in  extremes  ;  whereas  alas,  God 
\i  mofi:  conftjnt,  Clirift  the  fame,  heaven  the  fame, 
and  the  promile  the  fame  ;  ^nd  if  we  took  the  right 
courfe  for  fetching  in  our  comfort  from  thefe,  fure 
our  comforts  would  be  more  fettled  and  conftant,  though 
not  always  the  fame.  Whoever  thou  a;t  therefore  that 
readert  thefe  lii\e.s,  I  entreat  thee  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  and  as  thou  valueft  tlie  life  of  conflant  joy, 
and  that  good  confcience  which  is  a  continual  fcaft, 
that  thou  wouldrt  ferioully  fet  upon  this  work,  and 
learn  the  art  of  hcavenly-mindednefs,  and  thou  (halt 
find  the  increalV;  an  hundred  fold,  and  the  beneft 
abundantly  exceed  thy  labour. 

3.  Gonlider,  a  heart  in  heaven  will  be  a  mofl  ex- 
cellent prcfcrvative  againfl  temptations,  and  a  pov/- 
erful  means  to  fave  the  confcience  from  the  wcundsof 
-fin  ;  God  can  prevent  our  iinning,  though  ^/e  \x 
carelefs,  and  fometiraes  doth  ;  but  this  is  not  his  ufu- 
al courfe  ;  nor  is  this  our  faft;ft  way  to  efcapc.  Wiien 
the  mind  is  either  idle,  or  ill  employed,  the  devil 
needs  not  a  greater  advantage  :  ii  he  find  but  the 
mind  empty,  there  is  room  for  any  thing  that  he  will 
bring  in  3  but  when  he  finds  the  heart  in  heavin,  wjiat 


280  The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest, 

hope  that  his  motions  fliculJ  take  ?  Let  him  entree 
to  any  forbidden  courfe,  tlie  ioul  will  return  Nehemi- 
ah's  anfwer,  /  am  doirg  a  great  work,  ar,d  cannet 
€omc,  Neh.  vi.  3.  Several  ways  will  this  preftrve  us 
againfl:  temptation.  Firsts  l\y  keeping  tlie  htart  em- 
ployed. Stcondly,  By  clearing  the  underRaiuling,  and 
confirming  the  will.  Thirdly^  By  prc-pofleiring  the 
sffeftions.  Fourthly,  By  keeping  us  in  the  way  of 
God's  blefling. 

Fill},  By  keeping  th{=^  heart  employed:  when  vr% 
are  idle,  we  tempt  the  devil  to  tempt  us  ;  as  it  is  an 
enccuragcm.ent  to  a  thief,  to  fee  your  doors  open,  and 
nobody  within  ;  and  as  we  ufe  to  fay,  "  Carclcfs  per- 
"  fons  make  thieves  ;"  fo  it  will  encourage  Satan,  to 
ind  ycur  hearts  idle  :  but  when  the  heart  is  taken  up 
with  God,  it  cannot  hav«  time  to  hearken  to  tempta*. 
tion  ;  it  cannot  have  time  to  be  luftful  and  wanton^ 
umbitious  cr  worldly. 

If  you  were  but  buHed  in  your  lawful  callings,  you 
trould  not  be  fo  ready  to  hearken  to  temptations  : 
Riuch  lefs  if  you  were  bulied  above  with  God:  will 
▼ou  leave  your  plough  and  harvetl  in  the  field  ?  Of 
leave  the  quenching  of  a  fire  in  your  houfcs,  to  run 
blunting  cf  buttertiici  ?  Would  a  judge  rife,  when  ho 
is  fit'-ing  upon  life  and  death,  to  go  and  plj.y  among 
the  boys  in  the  ftreets  1  No  more  will  a  chrifiian, 
vhen  lie  is  bufy  with  God,  give  ear  to  the  alluring 
charms  of  Satan.  'l"be  love  of  God  it  never  idle  ;  it 
>vorkcth  great  things  where  it  truly  is  ;  and  when  it  will 
not  work  J  it  is  not  love.  Therefore  being  fiill  thuS 
"working,  it  is  ftill  preferving. 

Secondly,  A  heavenly  mind  is  free  ft  from  fin,  be- 
caufe  it  is  of  cleareft  underftanding  in  fpiritual  mat- 
;ter£.  A  man  that  is  much  in  converfing  above,  hath 
truer  and  livelier  ap;)rthenljcps  xi  things  concerning 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  281 

Cod  and  his  foul,  than  any  reading  or  learning  can 
beget  :  though  ptrbaps  he  mi^y  be  ignoriint  in  divers 
controverfies,  nnd  matters  that  kfs  concern  Kilvation  : 
yet  thofe  truths  -which  nuft  eftablifli  his  foul,  and 
preferve  him  from  temptation,  he  knows  far  better 
than  the  greatefl  fcholars  ;  he  hath  fo  deep  an  inHgl'.t 
into  the  evil  of  fm,  the  vanity  of  the  creature,  the 
brutifhnefs  of  fenfual  dtlights,  that  temptations  have 
little  power  on  him  ;  for  thcfe  earthly  vanities  are  Sa- 
tan's baits,  vvliich  with  the  clear- fighted  have  loft  thtir 
force.  In  vain  {saith  Solonicn)  the  net  is  spread  in  the 
sight  of  any  bird.  And  in  vain  doth  Satan  lay  his 
fnaies  to  entrap  the  foul  that  plainly  fees  them.  Whm 
the  heavenly  mind  is  above  with  God,  he  may  f  cm 
tlience  difcern  every  danger  that  lies  below  :  nay,  if 
he  did  not  difcovev  the  fnare,  yet  were  he  l.kelier  far 
to  efcape  it  than  any  others.  A  net  or  bait  that  is 
l.iid  on  the  ground,  is  unlikely  to  catch  the  bird  that 
flics  in  the  air  :  while  flie  keep3  above,  flie  is  out  of 
the  danger,  and  the  higher  the  fafcr  ;  fo  it  is  with  us, 
Satan's  temptation?  are  li.id  on  the  earth,  earth  is  the 
place,  and  earth  is  the  ordinary  bait :  how  fhall  thefe 
enfnare  the  chrifiiani  who  hath  left  tli>i  earth,  and 
walks  with  God  ? 

Do  you  not  fenfibly  perceive,  that  when  ycur  hearts 
are  ferioully  fixed  on  heaven,  you  become  wifc^r  than 
before  ?  Are  not  your  undcrflandings  more  folid  ;  and 
your  thoughts  more  fober  ?  Have  ycu  not  truer  apore- 
henfions  of  things  than  you  YvaA  \  For  my  own  part, 
if  ever  I  be  wife,  it  is  when  I  have  been  much  above, 
and  ferlouily  ftudied  the  life  to  come  :  meti.inks  I  find 
my  underRanding  after  fuch  contemplations,  as  much 
to  differ  from  what  it  was  before,  as  I  before  differed 
from  a  fool  or  an  idect  :  when  my  underRanding  is 
weakened  and  b.- fooled  with  common  employment, 
and  with  converfing  long  with  the  vanities  below,  me- 
rhinks  afvW  fcber  thoughts  of  my  Fathci's  hcufv,  and 
A  a  3 


2b.-2  Ths-  Xubita^  Ictr lasting  I^est, 

tlie  blclicd  provifiori  of  l.ls  family  in  heaven,  doth 
make  me  (with  a  prodigal)  to  come  to  myfelf  again* 
Suitly,  wlien  a  chrilliau  witlidiav.s  hiir.ftlf  from  his 
carthJy  thou-^l.ts,  and  begins  to  conveifc  with  God 
ill  heaven,  he  is  a  Nebuchadnezzar,  taken  from  the 
bcafls  of  the  field  to  tlie  throne,  and  his  underftandin^ 
returnetli  to  him  again.  O  when  a  chriftian  hath  had 
but  a  glimpfe  of  eternity,  and  then  looks  down  on  the 
world  again,  ho\y  doth  he  fay  to  his  laughter.  Thou 
art  mad!  And  to  his  vain  nsirth,  What  dost  thou? 
How  could  he  even  tear  his  flefii,  and  take  revenge  cii 
himftlf  for  his  folly  1  How  verily  doth  he  think  tha: 
there  is  no  man  in  Bedlam  fo  miid,  as  wilful  IJnners, 
and  lazy  betrayers  of  their  own  fouh,  and  unworthy- 
<^ighters  of  Chrift  and  glory  I 

Do  you  not  think  (except  men  are  flaik  devils)  that 
it  would  be  a  harder  matter  to  entice  a  man  to  fin, 
when  he  lies  a  dying,  than  it  was  before  ?  If  the  de- 
"vil,  or  his  inftrunients,  ihouid  then  tell  him  of  a  cup 
of  fack,  of  merry  company,  or  of  a  flage-play,  do  you 
think  he  would  then  be  fo  taken  with  the  motion  ?  If 
he  fhould  then  tell  him  of  riches,  or  honors,  or  lhe\7 
him  cards,  or  dice,  or  a  courtefan,  would  the  tempta- 
tion (think  you)  be  as  (Irong  as  before  i  Would  he 
not  anfwcr,  Ahs  1  what  is  all  this  to  me,  who  mull 
prefently  appear  befere  God,  and  give  account  of  all 
my  life,  and  Hraightways  be  in  another  world  ?  Why, 
if  the  apprcheniicn  of  the  nearnefs  of  eternity  wiil 
"work  fuch  Ihange  eficc\s  upon  the  ungodly,  and  make 
them  wifer  than  to  be  deceived  fo  tafily  as  they  were 
TYont  to  be  in  time  of  he«kh  ;  what  eiietts  would  it 
work  in  thee,  if  then  cculdil:  always  dwtU  in  the  views 
of  God,  and  in  lively  thoughts  of  thine  everlailing 
ilate  ?  Surely,  a  believer,  if  he  improve  his  faith,  may 
have  truer  apprehenfions  of  the  life  to  come,  in  khc 
time  of  his  health,  than  an  unbeliever  hatli  at  the 
bour  of  his  death. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  28$ 

Thirdi)-,  a  heavenly  mind  13  fortified  againft  tempta- 
tions, becauie  the  aficdlions  are  pre-poirciTcd  withtlie 
delights  of  another  world.  When  the  foul  is  not  af- 
fetled  with  good,  though  the  underflanding  never  fo 
clearly  apprehend  the  truth,  it  is  eafy  for  Satan  toen,- 
tice  that  foul.  Mere  fpeculalinns  (be  they  never  fo 
true)  which  fink  not  into  the  affedlions  are  poor  pre- 
fervatives  againft  temptations.  He  that  loves  molt, 
and  not  he  that  knows  moft,  will  eafieft  refiitthe  mo- 
tions of  lin.  There  is  in  a  chriftian  a  kind  of  fpiritu- 
al  tafte,  whereby  he  knows  thefe  things,  befides  his 
mere  reafouing  power:  the  will  doth  as  fweetly  relilh 
goodnefo,  as  the  underflanding-  doth  truth  ;  and  here 
lies  much  of  a  chriflian's  ftrength.  If  you  (hould  dif- 
pute  with  a  (imple  man,  and  labour  to  perfuade  him 
that  fugar  is  not  fweet,  er  that  wormwood  is  not  bit- 
ter ;  perhaps  you  might  with  fophiftry  over-argue  his 
mere  reafon,  butyet  you  could  not  perfuade  him  againfl 
his  fesfe  ;  whereas  a  man  that  hath  loft  his  tafte,  is  ea- 
[\t\-  deceived  for  all  his  reafon.  So  it  is  here.  When 
thou  haft  had  a  freili  delightful  tafte  of  heaven,  thou 
wilt  not  be  fo  eafily  pcrfuaded  from  it  :  you  cannot 
perfuade  a  very  child  to  part  with  his  apple,  v.'hile  the 
tafte  of  its  fweetnefs  is  yet  in  its  mouth. 

O  that  you  would  be  perfuaded  to  be  much  in  feed- 
ing on  the  hidden  manna,  and  to  be  frequently  tafting 
the  delights  of  heaven  I  It  is^  true,  it  is  a  great  way  ofl' 
from  our  feiiie,  but  faith  can  reach  as  far  as  that. 
How  would  this  raife  thy  refolutions,  and  make  thee 
laugh  at  the  fooleries  of  the  world,  and  fcorn  to  be 
cheated  with  fuch  childifti  toys  1  What  if  the  devil 
had  fet  upon  Paul  when  he  was  in  the  third  heaven  ? 
Could  he  then  have  perfuaded  his  heart  to  the  pleafures^ 
cr  profits,  cr  honors  of  the  world?  Though  the  If- 
raelites  below  may  be  enticed  to  idolatry,  and  from 
eating  and  drinking  to  rife  up  to  play  ;  yet  Ivlofes  in 
the  mount  with  God  will  not  do  fo  :  and  if  they  had 


284  The  Saints'  Everlasting  Re^t, 

been  where  he  was,  and  had  but  feen  whnt  he  there 
law,  perhaps  thcy^^^ould  not  fo  eafily  have  finntd.  O 
if  we  could  keep  our  fouls  continuiilly  di  lighted  >vith 
the  fwettnefs  above,  with  whatdildain  flioiild  we  fpit 
out  the  baits  of  lln  I 

Fourthly,  Whilfl  the  heart  is  fet  on  heaven,  a  man 
is  under  God's  protection  ;  and  therefore  if  Satan 
then  aiVault  him,  God  is  mere  engaged  for  his  de- 
fence. 

Let  me  entreat  thee  then,  if  thou  be  a  m.an  that  is 
haunted  with  temptation  (as  doubtlcfs  thou  art,  if 
thou  be  a  man)  if  thou  perceive  thy  dangcr,and  wouldft 
fain  efcapc  it  ;  nfe  much  this  powerful  reOiCdy,  keep 
clofe  with  God  by  a  heavenly  mind  ;  and  when  the 
temptation  comes,  go  ftraight  to  heaven,  and  turn  thy 
thoughts  to  higher  things  ;  thou  fhalt  find  this  a  furcr 
help  than  any  other.  Follow  your  bufmefs  above  with 
Chrift,  and  keep  your  thoughts  to  their  heavenly  em- 
ployment, and  y(  u  fooner\\ill  this  way  vanquifli  the 
temptation,  than  if  you  argued  or  talked  it  out  with 
the  tempter. 

4.  Ccnfider  the  diligent  keeping  of  your  hearts  on 
heaven,  will  preferve  thevigcur  of  all  your  graces, 
and  put  life  into  your  duties.  It  is  the  heavenly 
chriflian,  that  is  the  lively  chrifllan  :  it  is  ovr  ftrangr- 
iiefs  to  heaven  ihat  makes  us  fo  dull  :  it  is  the  end  that 
quickens  all  the  n.eans  ;  and  the  more  frequently  and 
clearly  this  end  is  beheld,  the  more  vigorous  will  all 
our  motions  be.  How  doth  it  make  men  unweari- 
cdly  labour,  and  fearleftly  venture,  when  they  do  but 
think  (f  the  gainful  prize  1  How  will  the  foldier  hazard 
his  life,  aid  the  nvariner  pafs  thrcugh  ftorms  and 
T  avcs  !  How  cheerfully  do  they  con-pafs  fea  and  lar-d, 
■when  thfy  think  of  an  uncertain  per. filing  treafure  I 
Q  what  life  then  wculd   it  put  into  »  chrifiian's  tn 


The  Saints^  E'jnrlastinz  Rest.  28a 


o 


ieavours,  if  he  would  frequently  think  of  his  everlaO- 
ing  treafure  !  We  run  fo  ilowly.  and  drive  fo  lazily, 
becaufe  we  fo  little  mind  the  prize.  When  a  chrifliaii 
hath  been  tafting  the  hidden  manna,  and  drinking  of 
the  ftreams  of  the  paradile  of  God,  what  life  dotli 
this  put  into  him  1  How  fervent  will  hia  fpirit  be  in 
prayer,  when  he  confidcrs  tha-t  he  prays  for  no  kfs  than- 
heaven  1 

Obferve  but  the  man  who  is  much  in  heaven,  ?tnd 
you  fliall  fee  he  is  not  like  others  ;  there  is  fomewhat 
of  that  which  he  hath  fv:;en  above,  appeareth  in  all  his 
duty  and  converlaLion  :  nay,  take  laut  the  fame  man 
immediately  when  he  is  returned  from  thefe  views  of 
blifs,  and  you  may  calily  perceive  he  e*  eels  himfelf. 
If  he  be  a  preacher,  how  heavenly  are  his  fermons^. 
What  clear  defcriptions,  what  high  expreffions  hath 
he  of  that  refl  I  If  he  be  a  private  chriflian,  what 
heavenly  conference,  what  heavenly  prayers,  what 
an  heavenly  carriage  hath  he  1  May  you  not  even  hear 
in  a  preacher's  fermons,  or  in  the  private  duties  of" 
another,  when  they  have  been  mod  above  ?  When  Mo- 
fes  had  been  with  God  in  the  mount,  it  made  his  face 
fliine,  that  the  people  could  not  behold  him.  If  you- 
would  but  let  upon  this  employment,  even  fo  it  would- 
be  with  you  :  men  would  fee  the  face  of  your  conver- 
sation fiiine,  and  fay,  Surely  he  hath  been  with  God, 

It  is  true,  a  heavenly  nature  goes  before  this  hea- 
venly employment  ;  but  yet  the  work  v/ill  make  i; 
more  heavenly  :  there  mufl  be  life,  before  v*'e  can  feed  t 
but  our  life  is  continued  and  increafed  by  feeding. 
Therefore,  let  me  intbrm  thee,  if  thou  lie  coinplain- 
ing  of  deadnefs  and  dulnels,  that  thou  canfk  net  love 
Chrift,  nor  rejoice  in  his  love  ;  that  thou  hail  no  life  in 
prayer,  nor  any  other  duty,  and  yet  never  tricdlt  this 
quickening  courfe,  or  at  lead  art  carelefs  and  incon- 
Jtant  in  it ;  thou  art  tiic  caufc  of  thy  own  coiriplaints  ; 


286  The  Saints^  Everlasting  jRest, 

thou  dullcll  thine  own  heart  ;  thou  denied  thyfclf  that 
life  which  thou  tulktft  of.  Is  not  thy  life  hid  with 
Christ  in  Gcd  ?  Whither  muft  thou  go  but  to  Ghrift 
for  it?  And  whither  is  that,  but  to  heaven,  where 
he  is  ?  Thou  ivilt  not  come  ta  Christ  that  thou  mayest 
have  life.  If  thou  wouldfl  have  light  and  heat,  why- 
art  thou  then  no  more  in  the  fur.fliine  ?  If  thou  wouldft 
have  more  of  that  grace  which  ilows  from  Chrift,  why- 
art  thou  no  more  with  Chrift  for  it  ?  Thy  ftrength  is 
in  heaven,  and  thy  life  in  heaven,  and  there  thou  muft 
daily  fetch  it,  if  thou  wilt  have  it.  For  wantof  th;s  re- 
courfe  to  heaven,  thy  foul  is  as  a  candle  that  is  not 
lighted,  and  thy  dutieias  a  facrifice  which  hath  no  fiie. 
Fetch  one  coal  daily  from  this  altar,  and  fee  if  thy  offer- 
ing will  not  burn.  Light  thy  candle  at  this  flame,  and 
feed  it  daily  with  oil  from  hence,  and  fee  if  it  will 
not  glorioufly  flilne  :  keep  clofe  to  this  reviving  fire, 
and  fee  if  thy  affedlions  will  not  be  warm.  Thou  be- 
waileft  thy  want  of  love  to  God  (and  well  thou  mayft, 
for  it  is  a  heinous  crime,  a  killing  fm)  wliy,  lift  up 
thy  eye  of  fuith  to  heaven,  behold  his  beauty,  con- 
template his  excellency,  and  he  whether  his  amia- 
blenefs  will  not  fire  thy  affei5lions,  and  his  goodnefs 
ravilh  thy  heart.  As  the  eye  doth  incenie  the  fcnfn- 
al  afledlions,  by  gazing  on  alluring  objeds  ;  fo  doth 
the  eye  of  faith  in  meditation  inflame  our  aiFetlion^ 
towards  our  Lord,  by  gazing  on  that  higheft  beauty. 
Whoever  thou  art  that  art  a  ftranger  to  this  employ- 
jnent,  be  thy  parts  and  profcliion  ever  fo  great,  let 
me  tell  thee,  thou  fpendeft  thy  life  but  in  trifling  or 
idlenefs  ;  thou  feemell  to  live,  but  thou  art  dead  :  I 
may  fay  of  thee,  as  Seneca  of  idle  Vacin^  Sci,  latere, 
vivere  nescis  ;  thou  knowtil  hov/  to  lurk  in  idlenefs, 
but  how  to  live  thou  knowe  I  not.  And  as  the  fame 
Seneca  >vould  fay,  when  he  paired  by  that  fluggard's 
dwelling,  Ibi  situs  est  Vacia ;  fo  it  may  be  lend  of 
thee,  there  lies  futh  a  one,  but  not  there  lives  luch 
a  one,  for  thou  fpendtft  thy  days  liktT    to  tifie  dead 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rsit,  287 

than  the  living.  One  of  Draco's  Ia\vs  to  the  iAthenlans 
was,  That  he  who  was  convided  of  icllenefs,  fliould 
be  put  to  Jeath :  thou  doft  execute  this  on  thy  own 
foul,  whilft  by  thy  idlenefs  thou  deftroyeft  its  life. 

Thou  mayft  many  other  ways  exercife  thy  parts, 
but  this  is  the  way  to  exercife  thy  graces  :  they  all 
come  from  God  as  their  fountain,  and  lead  t*  God 
as  their  end,  and  are  exercifed  on  God  as  their  chief 
obje£l :  fo  that  God  is  their  all  in  all.  From  heaven 
they  come,  and  to  heaven  they  will  dire6\  and  move 
thee.  And  as  exercife  maintaineth  appetite,  flrength 
and  livcUnefs  to  the  body  ;  fo  doth  it  alfo  to  the  foul. 
Use  limdsy  and  have  limbs^  is  the  known  proverb. 
And  ufe  grace  and  fpiritual  life  in  thefe  heavenly  ex- 
crcifes,  and  you  fliall  find  it  quickly  caufe  their  in- 
creafe.  The  exercife  of  your  mere  abilities  of  fpeech 
■vfill  not  much  advantage  your  graces;  but  the  exer- 
cife of  thefe  heavenly  gifts,  will  inconceiveably  help 
the  growth  of  both  :  for  as  the  moon  is  then  moft  full 
and  glorious,  when  it  doth  mofl  diredlly  face  the  fun  : 
fo  will  your  fouls  be  both  in  gifts  and  graces,  when 
yoH  mod  neaily  view  the  face  of  God.  This  will 
feed  your  tongue  with  matter,  and  make  you  abound 
and  overflow,  both  in  preaching,  praying,  and  con- 
iiring.  Befides  the  fire  which  you  fetch  from  heaven 
for  your  facrifices,  is  no  falfe  or  flnmge  fire.  As 
your  livelinefs  will  be  much  more  ;  fo  it  will  be  alfo 
more  fincere. 

The  zeal  which  is  kindled  by  ycur  meditations  on 
heaven,  is  moft  like  to  prove  an  heavenly  zeal  ;  and  the 
livelinefs  of  the  jpirit  which  you  f-itch  from  the  face 
of  God,  mufl  needs  be  the  divined  life.  Some  men's 
fervency  is  drawn  only  from  their  books,  and  fomr 
from  flinging  alfliclloiij  and  fome  from  the  mouth  of 
a  moving  miniiler,  and  fome  from  the  encourage- 
ment of  an  attentive  auciitory  :    but   he  that   knows 


288  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

this  way  to  lieavcn,  and  derives  it  daily  from  the  pure 
fountain,  fliall  have  his  foul  revived  with  the  wuter 
of  life,  and  cnjey  that  quickening  which  is  the  faint's 
peculitily  :  by  this  faith  thou  niayft  oifer  Abel's  facri- 
fice,  more  excellent  than  that  of  common  men,  and 
by  it  obtain  witnefs  that  tliou  art  righteous,  God 
teflifying  of  thy  gifts,  Hcb.  xi.  4.  When  others  are 
ready,  as  Baal's  priells,  to  beat  themfelves,  and  cut 
their  flefli,  becaufe  their  facrifices  will  not  burn  :  then 
if  thou  canfl  get  but  the  fpirit  of  Elias,  and  in  the 
chariot  of  contemplation  foar  aloft,  till  thou  aj)- 
proachcft  near  to  the  quickening  fpirit,  thy  foul  and 
facrlfice  will  glorioufly  flaiue,  though  the  flefh  and  the 
world  flioiild  caftupon  them  the  water  of  all  their  en- 
mity. Say  not  now,  how  fhdll  we  get  fo  high  ?  Or, 
how  can  mortals  afcend  to  heaven  ?  For  faith  hath 
•wings,  and  meditation  is  its  chariot  ;  its  office  is  to 
make  abfent  things  as  prefcnt.  Do  you  not  fee  how 
a  little  piece  of  ghfs,  if  it  do  but  riglitly  face  the 
fun,  will  fo  contract  its  beams  and  heat,  as  to  fet  on 
fire  that  which  is  behind  it,  which  without  it  would 
"have  received  but  little  warmth  ?  "Why  thy  faith  is  as 
the  burning-glafs  to  thy  facrifice,  aud  meditation  fets 
it  to  face  the  fun  ;  only  take  it  not  away  too  foon, 
but  hold  it  there  a  while,  and  thy  foul  will  feel  the 
happy  effeft. 

If  we  could  get  into  the  holy  of  holies,  and  bring 
thence  the  name  and  image  of  God,  and  get  it  clof- 
cd  up  in  our  hearts,  this  would  enable  us  to  work 
wonders  ;  every  duty  we  performed  would  be  a  won- 
der ;  and  they  that  heard  would  be  ready  to  fay.  Ne- 
ver man  fpake  as  this  man  fpeaketh.  The  fpirit  would 
pofTels  us,  as  thole  flaming  tongues,  and  make  us  eve- 
ry one  fpeak  (not  in  the  variety  of  the  confounded 
languages,  but)  in  the  primitive  pure  language  of 
Canaan,  the  wonderful  v/orks  of  God.  We  Ihould 
then  be  in  every  duty,  whether   prayer,  e;sil)ortation. 


The  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest,  289 


or  brotherly  reproof,  as  Paul  was  at  Athens,  his  fpi- 
rit  was  ftirred  within  hira  ;  and  fhoiild  be  ready  to 
lay,  as  Jeremiah  did,  Jer.  xx.  9.  "  His  word  was  in 
Miy  heart  as  a  burnlug  fire  (but  up  in  my  bones  ;  and  I 
was  weary  with  forbearing,  and  I  could  not  ftay." 

ChriOian  reader,  art  thou  not  thinking  when  thou 
feert  a  lively  believer,  and  heareft  his  melting  pray- 
crs,  and  ravilhing  difcourfe  ;  O  how  happy  a  majft 
is  this!  O  that  my  foul  were  in  his  ftate  !  Why,  I  herfc 
dircdl  and  advile  thee  from  God.  Try  this  courfe, 
and  fet  thy  foul  to  this  work,  and  thou  flialt  be  in  a* 
good  a  cafe.  Wafli  thee  fre-^uently  in  this  Jordan, 
and  thy  dead  foul  (hall  revive,  and  thou  flialt  kno^J- 
there  is  a  God  in  Ifrael  ;  and  that  thou  mayefl  live  a 
vigorous  and  joyous  life,  if  thou  neglect  not  thine 
own  mercies.  If  thou  truly  value  this  flrong  and  ac- 
tive frame  of  fpirit,  (hew  it  by  thy  prefent  attempting* 
this  heavenly  exercife.  Thou  haft  heard  the  way  to 
ol)tain  this  life  in  thy  foul,  and  in  thy  duties  ;  if  thou 
wilt  yet  neglect  it,  blame  thyfelf. 

But  alas,  the  multitude  of  profeffors  come  to  a 
niinifter,  jufl:  as  Naaman  came  to  Elias  ;  they  afl^  us, 
how  Hiall  I  overcome  a  hard  heart,  and  get  the  flrength 
and  life  of  grace  ?  But  they  expeA  that  Ibme  eafy 
means  fliould  do  it  ;  and  think  we  fliould  cure  them 
with  the  very  anfwer  to  their  queftion,  and  teach  ther^ 
a  way  to  be  quickly  well :  but  when  they  hear  of  a 
daily  trading  in  heaven,  and  conftant  meditation  on 
the  joys  above  ;  this  is  a  greater  tafk  than  they  ex- 
pe&ed,  and  they  turn  their  backs,  as  Ntaman  to  Elias, 
or  the  young  man  on  Chrift.  Will  not  preaching,  and 
praying,  and  conference  ferve  (fay  they)  without  thi« 
dwelling  dill  in  heaven  I  I  entreat  thee,  reader,  be- 
ware of  this  folly;  fall  to  the  work:  the  comfort  of 
fpiritual  health  will  countervail  all  the  trouble.  It  is 
but  the  flefh  that  repines,  which  thou  knowell  w^as 
B  b 


200  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

never  a  friend  to  thy  foul.  If  God  had  fet  thee  ot 
fomc  grievous  work,  fhouldfl  thou  not  have  done  it 
for  the  life  of  thy  foul  ?  Kow  much  more  ivhen  he 
doth  but  invite  thee  to  himfclf  ? 

5.  Confider,  the  frequent  believing  views  of  glory 
are  the  moft  precious  cordial  in  all  afflitlions.  1.  To 
fuftain  our  fpirits,  and  make  our  fuffcrings  far  more 
eafy.  2.  To  flay  us  from  repining.  And  3.  To 
ftrengthen  our  relolutions,  thnt  we  forfake  not  Chrift 
for  fear  of  trouble.  A  man  will  more  quietly  endure 
the  lancing  of  his  for«?,  when  lie  thinks  on  the  eaft 
that  will  follow.  What  then  will  not  a  believer  en- 
dure, when  he  thinks  of  the  reft  to  which  it  tendeth  ? 
What  if  the  way  be  never  fo  rough,  can  it  be  tedious 
if  it  lead  to  heaven  ?  O  fweet  ficknefs,  fweet  reproach- 
es, imprifonments,  or  death,  which  is  accompanied 
Avith  thefe  taftes  of  our  future  reft  I  Believe  it,  thou 
wilt  fufier  heavily,  thou  wilt  die  moft  fadly,  if  thou 
haft  not  at  hand  the  foretaftes  of  this  reft.  Therefore 
as  thou  wilt  then  be  ready  with  David  to  pray,  Be  not 
far  from  me ^  for  trovb'.e  is  near  :  fo  let  it  be  thy  chief 
care  not  to  be  far  from  God  and  heaven,  when  trou- 
ble is  near,  and  thou  vjilt  fnd  him  a  verj  present  help 
in  trouble. 

All  fuflferings  are  nothing  to  us,  fo  far  as  we  have 
the  forcfight  of  this  falvation.  No  bolts,  nor  bars, 
nor  diftance  of  place  can  fhut  out  thefe  fupporting 
joys,  becaufe  they  cannot  confine  our  faiih  and 
thoughts,  although  they  may  confine  our  flefti.  Chrift 
and  faith  are  fplritual,  and  therefore  prifons  and  ba- 
niflimcnts  cannot  hinder  their  intercourfe.  Even  when 
perfecution  and  fear  hath  lliut  the  door,  Chrift  can. 
come  in,  and  ftand  in  the  midft,  and  fay,  P^oce  be 
unto  you.  It  is  not  the  place  that  gives  the  reft,  but 
the  prefence  and  beholding  of  Chrift  in  it.  If  the  Son 
•f  God  will  walk  with  \is  in  it,  we  may  walk  fafcly 


The  Samts^  Everlasting  Rest,         291 

in  the  midft  of  thofe  flames,  which  fliall  devour  thofe 
that  caft  us  in  :  why  then,  keep  thy  foul  above  with 
Chrift  ;  be  as  little  as  may  be  cut  of  his  company,  and 
then  all  conditions  will  be  alike  to  thee.  Wl\at  made 
Mofts  "  choofe  affliftion  with  the  people  of  God,  rather 
than  enjoy  the  pleafures  cf  fin  for  a  feafon  ?  He  had 
refpedl  to  the  recompenfe  of  reward."  Yea,  our  Lord 
himfclf  did  fetch  his  encouragements  to  fufferings 
from  the  fcrffight  of  his  glory  :  **  for  to  this  end  he 
both  died  and  rofe,  and  revived,  that  he  might  be  Lord 
both  of  the  dead  and  living,"  Rom.  xiv.  9.  "  Even 
Jefus  the  author  andfinifner  of  our  faith,  for  the  joy 
that  was  fet  before  him,  endured  the  crofs,  defpifing 
the  {hame,  and  is  fet  down  at  the  right  hand  of  th;i 
throne  of  God." 

6.  Confidcr,  It  is  he  that  haih  his  converfation  in 
heaven,  who  is  the  profitable  chriftian  to  all  about 
him  :  with  him  you  may  take  fweet  counfcl,  and  go 
up  to  the  celellial  houfc  of  God.  When  a  man  is  in 
a  ftrange  country,  far  from  home,  how  glad  is  he  of 
the  company  cf  one  of  his  own  nation  !  How  delight- 
ful is  it  to  them  to  talk  of  their  country,  of  their  ac- 
cjuaintance,  and  the  affairs  of  their  home  !  Why,  v/ith 
a  hcav«nly  chriRian  thou  mayeft  have  fuch  difcourfe  ; 
for  he  hathbstn  there  in  the  fpirit,  and  can  tell  thee 
cfthe  glory  and  reft  above.  To  difcourfe  with  able 
men,  of  clear  underftandings.  about  th'i  difiicu-lties  of 
religion,  yea,  about  languages  and  fcitnces,  is  Ijoth 
pieplant  and  profitable  ;  bbit  nothing  to  this  heaver.Iy 
difcourfe  of  a  believer.  O  how  refrefliing  are  h's  tx- 
prelfions  1  How  his  words  pierce  the  heirt  I  How  they 
transform  the  hearers  I  <»  How  doth  his  dodlrine  drop 
as  the  rain,  and  his  fpeech  diftil  as  the  dew,  as  the 
fmall  rain  upon  the  tender  herb,  and  as  the  fliowers 
upon  the  grafs  ;  while  his  tongue  is  exorefling  the  name 
of  the  I,ord,  and  afcribing  greatnel's  to  his  God  1" 
This  is  the  man  who  is  as  Job,  "  when  t!';C  candle  ef 


292  77?^  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest* 

God  did  fliine  upon  his  head,  and  when  by  his  HgM 
he  walked  through  darknefs :  when  the  fecret  of  God 
■was  upon  his  tabernacle,  and  when  the  Almighty  was 
yet  with  him  :  then  the  ear  that  heard  him,  did  blefs 
hira  ;  and  the  eye  that  faw  him,  gave  witnefs  to 
him,"  Job  xxix.  S,  4,  5.  11.  Happy  the  people  that 
have  an  heavenly  minifter  :  happy  the  children  and  fer- 
vants  that  have  an  heavenly  father  or  mafter  ;  happy 
the  man  that  hath  heavenly  afTociates  ;  if  they  have 
but  hearts  to  know  their  happinefs.  This  is  the  com- 
panion, who  will  watch  over  thy  ways,  who  will 
ftrengthen  thee  Avhen  thou  art  weak  ;  v/ho  will  cheer 
thee  when  thou  art  drooping,  and  comfort  thee  with 
the  fame  comforts,  wherewith  he  hath  been  fo  often 
comforted  himfelf-  This  is  he  that  will  be  blowing 
the  fpark  of  thy  fpirituai  life,  and  alwLiys  drawing  thy 
foul  to  God,  and  will  be  faying  toth^e,  as  the  Sama- 
ritan woman,  Come  and  see  otie  tliat  hath  told  me  alt 
thai  ever  I didy  one  that  hath  ravilhed  my  heart  with 
his  beauty,  one  that  hath  loved  cur  fouls  to  the  death  : 
is  not  this  the  Chrlft  ?  Is  not  tlie  knowledge  of  God 
and  him  eternal  life  ?  Is  it  not  the  glory  of  the  faints 
to  fee  his  glory  ?  If  thou  travel  with  this  man  on  the 
way,  he  will  be  diredling  and  quickening  thee  in  thy 
journey  to  heaven  :  if  thou  be  buying  or  felling,  or 
trading  with  him  in  the  world,  he  will  be  counfelling 
thee  to  lay  out  for  the  ineflimable  treafure  :  If  thou 
wrong  him,  he  can  pardon  thee,  remembering  that 
Chrift  hath  not  only  pardoned  great  offences  to  him, 
but  will  alfo  give  him  this  invaluable  portion.  This 
is  the  chriftian  of  the  right  Oamp  ;  this  is  the  fervant 
that  is  like  his  Lord  ;  thcfe  be  the  innocent  that  fave 
the  land,  and  all  about  them  are  the  better  where  they 
dwell.  I  fear  the  men  I  have  defcribed  are  very  rare, 
but  were  it  not  for  our  fliaraeful  negligence,  fuch  men 
Mi^ht  we  all  be  ! 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  293 

CHAP.     HI. 

Ccnfatning  some  Hinderances  of  Heuvenlij- 
mindedness, 

AS  thou  valueft  the  comforts  of  a    heavenly  con- 
verfation,  I    here    charge   thee    from  Gcd,   to 
beware  mofl  curefully  of  thefe  impedhnents. 

1.  The  firft  is,  the  living  in  a  known  fin.  ObO^'rvc 
this.  What  havoc  will  this  make  in  thy  foul  !  O  the 
joys  that  this  hath  dcftroyed  I  The  blefled  communi- 
on with  God,  that  this  hath  interrupted  1  The  ruins 
it  hath  made  amongd  men's  graces  1  The  duties  that 
it  hath  hindered  I  And  above  all  others,  it  is  an  ene* 
my  to  this  great  duty. 

I  defire  thee  in  the  fear  of  God,  flay  here  a  little, 
and  feavch  thy  heart.  Art  thou  one  that  hath  uled 
violence  with  thy  confcience  ?  Art  thou  a  wilful  ne- 
olccler  of  known  duties,  either  public  or  private  ? 
Art  thou  a  flave  to  thine  appetite,  in  eating  or  drink- 
ing, or  to  any  other  commanding  fenfe  ?  Art  thou  a 
feeker  of  thine  own  efteem,  and  a  man  that  mull 
needs  have  men's  good  opinion  ?  Art  thou  a  peevifh 
or  paflionate  perfon,  ready  to  take  fire  at  every  word, 
or  every  fuppofed  flight  ?  Art  thou  a  deceiver  of 
others  in  thy  dealing  ;  or  one  tli^it  hath  fet  thyfelf  to 
rife  in  the  world?  Not  to  fpeak  cf greater  fins,  which 
all  take  notice  of.  If  this  be  thy  cafe,  1  dare  fay, 
heaven  and  thy  foul  are  very  great  ftrangers  ;  I  dare 
fiiy,  thou  art  f«ldom  with  God,  and  there  is  little 
hope  it  fhould  be  better,  as  long  as  tiiou  continued 
in  thefe  tranfgreflions  ;  thefe  beams  in  thine  eyes  will 
not  fufFer  thee  to  look  to  heaven  ;  tiiefe  will  be  a  ciou4 
'jetween  thee  and  God.  How  (houldfl  thou  take 
B  b    2 


'Z94t  Thd  Saint ii''  Everlasting  I^est, 

comfort  from  heaven,  who  taketh  fo  much  pleafure 
ill  the  lufls  of  the  flefli  ?  Every  wilful  lin  will  be  to 
thy  comforts  as  water  to  fire  ;  when  thou  tliinkeft  to 
quicken  them,  this  will  quench  them  ;  when  thy 
heart  begins  to  draw  near  to  God,  this  will  pvefent- 
ly  fill  thee  with  doubting.  Befides  it  doth  utterly  in- 
difpofe  thee,  and  difable  thee  to  this  work  ;  when 
ihou  fliouidft  wind  up  thy  heart  to  heaven,  it  is  biaf- 
fed  another  way  ;  it  is  entangled,  and  can  no  more 
afcend  in  divine  meditation,  than  the  bird  can  fly 
■whofe  vving:3  are  dipt,  or  that  is  taken  in  the  fnare. 
Sin  doth  cut  the  very  finews  of  the  foul  ;  therefore  I 
fay  of  this  heavenly  life,  as  Mr.  Bolton  faith  of  pray  J 
cr,  "  Either  it  will  make  thee  leave  finning,  or  fin 
"will  make  thee  leave  it,"  and  that  quickly  too: 
for  thefe  cannot  continue  together.  If  heaven  and 
hell  can  meet  together,  then  mayeft  thou  live  in  thy 
iin,  and  in  the  taftes  of  glory.  If  therefore  thou  find 
thyfelf  guilty,  never  doubt  but  this  is  the  caufe  that 
eftrangeth  thee  from  heaven  ;  and  take  heed  left  it 
keep  out  thee,  as  it  keeps  out  thy  heart.  Yea,  if 
thou  be  a  man  that  hitherto' haft  efcaped,  and  know- 
eft  no  reigning  fin  in  thy  foul,  yet  let  this  warning 
move  thee  to  prevention,  and  ftir  up  a  dread  of  this 
danger  in  thy  fpirit,  efpecially  refolve  to  keep  from 
the  occafions  of  fin,  and  as  much  as  poifible,  out  of 
tUe  way  of  temptations. 

2.  A  fecond  hinderance  carefully  to  be  avoided,  is, 
an  earthly  mind  :  for  you  may  calily  conceive,  that 
this  cannot  ftand  with  an  heavenly  mind.  God  and 
mammon,  earth  and  heaven,  cannot  both  have  the 
delight  of  thy  heart.  This  makes  thee  like  Anfelm's 
bird,  with  a  ilone  tied  to  the  foot,  which  as  oft  as 
file  took  flight,  did  pluck  her  to  the  earth  again.  If 
thou  be  a  man  that  haft  fancied  to  thyfelf,  fome  hap- 
pinefs  to  be  found  on  earth,  and  beginncft  to  taftc  a 
fweetnefs  ir  j^aiu;,  and  to  afpire  after  an  higher  eftate. 


The  Saints-  Everlasting  Rest.  295 

and  art  driving  on  thy  defign ;  believe  it,  thou  art 
marching  with  thy  back  upon  Chrlft,  and  art  porting 
apace  from  this  heavenly  Wic.  Hath  not  the  world 
that  from  thee,  which  God  hath  from  the  believer  ? 
When  he  is  blefTing  himfelf'in  God,  and  rejoicing  in 
hope  of  the  glory  to  come  ;  then  thou  art  bleffing 
thyfelf  in  thy  profperity. 

It  may  be  thou  holdefl  on  thy  courfe  of  duty,  and 
pray  eft  as  oft  as  thou  didft  before  ;  it  may  be  thou 
kecpeft  in  with  good  minifters,  and  with  good  men, 
and  "feemeft  as  forward  in  religion  as  ever  :  but  what 
is  all  this  to  the  purpofe  ?  Mock  not  thy  foul,  man  ; 
for  God  will  not  be  mocked.  Thine  earthly  mind 
may  confift  with  thy  common  duties  ;  but  it  cannot 
confift  with  this  heavenly  duty.  I  need  not  tell  thee 
this,  if  thou  wouldft  not  be  a  traitor  to  thy  own 
foul  :  thou  knoweft  thyfelf  how  feldom  and  cold, 
how  Gurfory  and  ftrange  thy  thoughts  have  been  of 
the  joys  hereafter,  ever  fince  thou  didft  trade  fo  eager- 
ly for  the  world. 

Methinks  I  eren  perceive  thy  confcience  ftir  now, 
and  tell  thee  plainly,  that  this  is  thy  cafe  :  hear  it, 
man  1  O  hear  it  now  :  left  thou  hear  it  in  another 
manner  when  thou  wouldft  be  full  loth.  O  the  curfed 
madnefs  of  many  that  feem  to  be  religious  ?  who 
thruft  themfelves  into  the  multitude  of  employments, 
and  think  they  can  never  have  bufinefs  enough,  till 
they  are  fo  loaded  with  labours,  and  clogged  with 
cares,  that  their  fouls  are  as  unfit  to  converfe  with 
God,  as  a  man  to  walk  with  a  mountain  on  his  back. 
And  when  all  is  done,  and  they  have  loft  that  heaven 
they  might  have  had  upon  earth,  they  take  up  a  few 
rotten  arguments  to  prove  it  lawful,  and  then  they 
think  that  they  have  falved  all.  'i'hey  niifs  not  the 
pleafures  o-f  this  iieavenly  life,  if  they  can  but    quiet 


296  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

th'jir  conftienccs,  while  they  tuften   upon  lower   and 
baler  pi eafu res. 

For  thee,  O  GJirldian  !  who  haft  tailed  of  thefe 
j-jcafures,  I  advlfe  thee,  as  thou  vaiueft  their  enjoy- 
ment, as  ever  thou  wouldft  tafte  of  them  any  more, 
take  heed  of  this  gulph  of  an  earthly  mind  ;  For  if 
once  thou  comefl  to  this,  that  thou  r^i/t  he  rich,  thou 
fallest  into  temptation.,  and  a  snare,,  and  into  divers 
foolish  and  hurtful  lusts.  Keep  thefe  things  as  thy  up- 
per garments  dill  loofe  about  thee,  that  thou  mayefl 
lay  thtm  by  whenever  there  is  caufe  :  but  let  God  and 
glory  be  next  thy  heart,  yea,  as  the  very  blood  and 
fpirit  by  which  thou  liveft  :  ftill  remember  that  of  the 
Spirit,  "  The  friendfliip  of  the  world  is  enmity  with 
God  :  whofoever  therefore  will  be  a  friend  of  the 
world,  is  the  enemy  of  God.  And,  love  not  the  world, 
nor  the  things  in  the  world  :  if  any  man  love  the 
world,  tke  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him."  This  is 
plaiia  dealing  ;  and  happy  he  that  faithfully  receives  it. 

3.  A  third  hinderance  of  which  I  mud  advlfe  thee  to 
beware,  is,  the  company  of  ungodly  and  fenfual 
n:icn.  Not  that  1  would  diffuade  thee  from  necelTary 
converfe,  or  from  doing  them  any  oiHce  of  love  : 
nor  would  1  have  thee  conclude  them  to  be  dogs  and 
fwine,  that  fo  thou  mayed  evade  the  duty  of  reproof  ; 
nor  yet  to  judge  them  inch  at  all,  before  thou  art 
certain  they  are  fuch  indaed. 

But  it  is  the  unneceffary  fociety  of  ungodly  men, 
and  fansiliarity  with  unprofitable  companioi»s,  though 
they  be  not  fo  apparently  ungodly,  that  1  difl'uade 
ycu  from.  It  is  not  only  th«  open  profane,  the 
fwearer,  the  drunkard,  that  will  prove  hurtful  to  us  ; 
but  dead-hearted  formaliRs,  or  perfons  merely  civil 
and  moral,  or  whole  conference  is  empty,  unfavoury, 
and  barren,  may  much  diver:  our  thoughts  ficm  heaver. 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  29Y 

As  mere  idlenefs,  and  forgetting  God,  will  keep  a 
foul  as  certainly  from  heaven,  as  a  profane,  licentious, 
ficfhly  life  :  fo  alfo  will  ufelefs  company  as  furely 
keep  our  hearts  from  heaven,  as  the  company  of  men 
more  diffolutc  and  profane.  Alas  !  our  dulnefs  and 
backwardnefs  is  fuch,  that  we  have  need  of  the  moft 
conftant  and  powerful  helps  :  a  clod,  or  a  (lone  that 
lies  on  the  earth,  is  as  prone  to  arife  and  fly  in  the 
air,  as  our  hearts  are  to  move  towards  heaven.  You 
need  not  hold  them  from  flying  up  to  the  flcies  ;  it  is 
fufficient  that  you  do  not  l>elp  them.  If  our  fpirits 
have  not  great  affiftance,  they  may  eafily  be  kept 
frora  flying  aloft,  though  they  never  fliould  meet 
with  the  leafl  impediment.  O  think  of  this  in  the 
choice  of  your  company:  when  your  fpirits  need  no 
help  to  lift  them  up,  but  as  the  flames  you  are  al- 
ways mounting  upwards,  and  carrying  with  you  all 
that  is  in  your  way,  then  you  may  indeed  be  lefs 
careful  of  your  company  ;  but  till  then  be  careful 
therein.  As  it  is  reported  of  a  lord  that  was  near  his 
death,  and  the  doftor  that  prayed  with  him  read  over 
the  litany,  Fur  all  women  labouring  tvith  child^for  all 
sick  persons^  andyoung  children,  5^c,  From  lightning 
and  tempest  ;  from  plague,  pestilence,  and  famine  ; 
from  battle  and  murder,  and  from  sudden  death.  Alas  ! 
faith  he,  what  is  this  to  me,  who  muft  prefently  die  ? 
So  mayefl:  thou  fay  of  fuch  men's  conference  ;  alas  ! 
what  is  this  to  me,  who  muft  fliortly  be  in  reft  ?  What 
will  it  advantage  thee  to  a  life  jwith  God,  to  hear 
T/here  the  fair  is  fuch  a  day,  or  how  the  market  goes, 
or  what  weather  it  is,  or  is  like  to  be,  or  when  the 
moon  changed,  or  what  news  is  ftirring  ?  What  will 
it  conduce  to  the  raifingthy  heart  God-ward,  to  hear 
that  this  is  an  able  minifter,  or  that  an  able  chriftian, 
or  that  this  was  an  excellent  fermon,  or  that  is  an 
f  xcellent  book  ;  to  hear  a  difcourfe  of  baptifms,  ce- 
remonies, the  order  of  God's  decrees,  or  other  fuch 
controverfies  of  g^reat  difiTiculty,  and  lefs  importance  ? 


2f)8  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

Yet  this,  for  the  moft  part,  is  the  fwcetefl  difcourf: 
that  you  are  likely  to  have  of  a  formal  dead. hearted 
profeffor.  If  thou  had  newly  been  warming  thy 
heart  with  the  joys  above,  would  not  this  difcourie 
quickly  freeze  it  again  ?  I  appeal  to  the  judgment  of 
any  man  that  hath  tried  it,  and  maketh  obiervations 
•n  the  frame  of  his  fpirit. 

4.  A  fourth  hinderance  to  heavenly  conTerfation, 
is,  difputes  about  leffer  truths,  andefpeciaily  when  a 
man's  religion  lies  only  in  his  opinions  ;  a  fure  fign 
of  an  unfanc\ified  foul.  If  fad  examples  be  regarded, 
1  need  fay  the  lefs  upon  this.  It  is  legibly  written 
in  the  faces  of  thoufands  ;  it  is  viiible  in  the  com- 
plexion of  our  deceafed  nation.  Tiiey  gire  men  lead 
acquainted  with  a  heavenly  life,  who  are  the  violent 
difputers  about  the  circuniftantials  of  religion  :  he 
whole  religion  is  all  in  his  opinions,  will  be  mofl 
frequently  and  zealoufly  fpeaking  his  opinions  :  and 
he  whofe  religion  lies  in  the  knowledge  and  love 
of  God  in  Chrlft,  of  that  time  when  he  fnall  enjoy 
God  and  Chrifl.  As  the  body  dothlangwilh  in  con- 
fuming  fevers,  when  the  nati\e  htat  abates  within, 
andj  an  unnatural  heat  inllaming  the  external  parts 
fucceds  ;  fo  when  the  zeal  of  a  chriftian  doth  leave 
the  internals  of  reli<^ion,  and  tiy  to  externals,  or  in- 
ferior things,  the  foul  muil  needs  confume  and  Ian- 
gulfli.  Yea,  though  you  were  fure  your  opinions 
were  true,  yet  when  the  chief  of  your  zeal  is  turned 
ihither,  and  the  chief  ot"  your  conference  there  laid- 
out,  the  life  of  grace  decays  v/ithin. 

Therefore  let  me  advife  you  that  afplre  after  thi^ 
joyous  liff,  fpefld  not  your  thoughts,  your  time,  your 
zeal,  or  your  fpeeches  upon  quarrels  that  lels  concern 
your  fouls  :  but  when  others  are  feeding  on  hulks 
or  fhells,  or  on  this  heated  food  which  will  burn  their 
I'r.i,  far  foonertlian  warm  and  ftrcngtbcn  their  hearts  ; 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  29§ 

then  dc  you  feed  on  the  joys  above.  I  could  wifh 
you  were  all  undcrflanding  men,  able  to  defend  every 
truth  of  God  ;  but  ftill  I  would  have  the  chief  to  be 
chiefly  ftudied,and  none  to  flioulder  out  your  thoughts 
of  eternity  :  the  leafl:  controverted  points  are  ufually 
nioft  weighty,  and  of  niofl  neceffary  ufe  to  our  foul?, 

5.  As  you  value  the  comforts  of  a  heavenly    life, 
take  heed  of  a  proud  and  lofty  fpirit.      There  is  fuch 
an  antipathy  between  this  fin  and  God,  that  thou  wilt 
never  get  thy  heart  near  him,  as  long  as  this  prevail- 
cth  in  it.      If  it  cad  the  angels  from  heaven  that  were 
in  it,  it  mufl  needs  keep  thy  heart  eftranget!  front  it. 
If  it  call  our  firfl  parents  out  of  paradife,  and  fepara- 
ted  between  the  Lord  and  as,  it  muft  needs  keep  our 
hearts  from  paradife,  and  increafe  the  curfed  fcparati- 
on  from  our  God.     The  delight  of  God  is  an  humble 
foul,  even  him  that  is  contrite,  and  trcmbleth  at  his 
Tvord  :   aad  the  delight  of  an  humble  foul  is  in  God : 
andfure  where  there  is  mutual  deliglit,  there  will  be 
freeft    admittance,  and    heartieft  welcome,    and   moft 
frequent    converfe.      Well   then,   art  thou   a    man  of 
worth  in  thine  own  eyes  ?  And  very  tendew  of  thine 
elleem  with  others  ?  Art  thou  one  that  much  valuefk 
applaufe  and  feeleft  delight  when  thou  hearcft  of  thy 
great  efteem  with   men  ;  and  art  dejecled  when  thoia 
heareft  that  men  flight  thee  ?  Dofl  thcu    love   thofc 
mofl:  who  beft   honor  thee  ;   and  doth  thy   heart  bear 
k  grudge  at  thofe  that  thou  thinkefl  undervalue  thee; 
Wilt  thou  not  be  brought  to  fliame  thyfelf,  by  hum- 
ble confefTion  when  thou  haft  finned  againfl  God,  or 
injured  thy  brother  ?   Art  thou  one  that  honoreft  the 
rich  ?     and    thinkeft    thyfelf  fomebody  if  they  value 
and  own  thee?  but  lookeft  ftrangely  at  the  poor,  and 
art  almoft  alhamed  to  be  their  companion  ?  Art  thou 
Unacquainted  with  the   deceitfulnefs    and    wickednefs 
of  thy  heart  ?   Or  knoAVcft  thyfelf  to  be  vile  only   by 
reading,  jictby  feeling  thy  vilenefs  ?  Art  tiioHreadi- 


-300  The  Saints^  Everlastino-  j^est. 


cr  to  defend  thyfelf  and  maintain  thine  innocency, 
than  to  accufe  thyfelf,  or  confefs  thy  fault  ?  Canft  thou 
hardly  bear  a  clofe  reproof,  or  plain  dealing  without 
difficulty  and  diflafte  ?  Art  thou  readier  in  thy  dif- 
courfc  to  teach  than  to  learn  :  and  to  dictate  to  others, 
than  to  hearken  to  their  inftruAions  ?  Art  thou  bold 
and  confident  of  thy  own  opinions,  and  little  fnfpi- 
cious  of  the  weaknefs  of  thy  underftanding  ?  but  a 
{lighter  of  the  judgment  of  all  that  are  againft  thee? 
Is  thy  fpirit  more  difpofed  to  command  than  to  obey  ? 
Art  thou  ready  to  cenfure  the  dodxrine  of  thy  teachers, 
the  a<5lions  of  thy  rulers,  and  the  perfons  of  thy  bre- 
thren ?  And  to  think,  if  thou  wert  a  judge,  thou 
woukUl  be  more  jufl  ;  or  if  thou  wert  a  minifter,  thou 
would  ft  be  more  fruitful  and  more  faithful  ?  If  thefa 
f^mptoms  be  in  thy  heart,  beyond  doubt  thou  art  a 
proud  perfon.  Thou  art  abominably  proud  ;  there  is 
too  much  of  hell  abiding  in  thee,  for  thee  to  have  any 
acquaintance  at  heaven  :  thy  foul  is  too  like  the  devil, 
to  have  any  familiarity  with  God. 

I  entreat  you  be  very  jealous  of  your  fouls  in  this 
point  :  there  is  nothing  will  more  eftrange  you  from 
God  :  I  fpeak  the  more  of  it,  becaufe  it  is  the  moll 
€ommon  and  dangerous  fin,  and  moft  promoting  the 
great  Tin  of  infidelity  :  you  would  little  think  what 
humble  carriage,  what  exclaiming  againft  pride,  what 
felf-accunng  may  ftand  with  this  devilifli  fin  of  pride. 
O  chriftian,  if  thou  wouldft  live  continually  in  the 
prefence  of  thy  Lord,  and  lie  in  the  duft,  he  would 
thence  take  thee  up ;  defcend  firft  with  him  into  the 
grave,  and  thence  thou  mayeit  afcend  with  him  to  glo- 
ry. Learn  of  him  to  be  mtek  and  lowiy,  and  then 
thou  m?.y-3:  tafte  of  this  reft  to  thy  foul.  Thy  foul 
eUe  vvill  be  as  the  troubled  sea,  wliich  cannot  rest ;  and 
inft-^ad  of  thefe  fweet  delights  in  God,  thy  pride  will 
€11  thee  with  perpetuaJ  difquietude. 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  301 

6.  Another  impecUinciit  to  this  heavenly  life  is,  lazi- 
nefs,  and  flothfiilnefs  offpirit:  and  I  verily  think  for 
knowing  men,  there  is  nothing  hinders  more  than  thi'i. 
If  it  were  only  the  exerciie  of  the  body,  the  moving 
of  the  lips,  the  bending  of  the  knee  ;  then  men  would 
a?  commonly  (lep  to  heaveH)  as  they  go  a  few  miles  to 
vifit  a  friend  ;  yea,  if  it  wcmc  to  fpend  our  days  in 
numbering  beads,  and  repeating  certain  words  and 
prayers,  or  in  the  outward  parts  of  duties  commanucd 
by  God,  yet  it  were  comparatively  eafy  :  further,  if 
it  were  only  in  the  exercife  of  parts  and  gifts,  it  were 
cafier  to  be  heavenly-m.inded.  But  it  is  a  work  mora 
difRcult  than  all  this  :  to  feparate  our  thoughts  and  af- 
fections from  the  world  ;  to  draw  forth  all  our  graces 
in  their  order,  and  exercife  each  on  its  proper  objetl, 
to  hold  them  to  this,  till  the  work  doth  thrive  and 
prjfper  in  th^^ir  hands :  this  is  the  difficult  tafk. 
Heaven  is  above  thee,  the  way  is  upvv'ard  ;  doft  thou 
"thnik,  who  art  a  feeble  finner,  to  travel  daily  this  Itcep 
aicent  without  a  great  deal  of  labour  and  refolution  I 
Cann  thou  get  that  earthly  heart  to  heaven,  and  bring- 
that  backward  mind  to  God,  while  thou  lieft  ftill, 
and  takcit  thy  eafe  ?  If  lying  down  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  and  looking  toward  the  top,  and  wilhing  we  were 
there  would  ferve  the  turn,  then  we  (hould  have  dai- 
ly travellers  for  heaven.  But  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
suffcrethviolcnce^  andthe  violent  take  it  bj force.  There 
mud  be  violence  ufed  to  get  the  firft-fruits,  as  well  as 
to  get  the  full  polTeilion.  Dolt  thou  not  feel  it  fo, 
though  I  fhould  not  tell  thee  ?  Will  thy  heart  get  up- 
•\vards  except  thou  drive  it  ?  Doll  thou  find  it  eafy  to 
dwell  in  the  delights  above  ?  It  is  true,  the  work  is 
fweet  and  no  condition  on  earth  fo  delirable  ;  but 
therefore  it  is  that  our  hearts  are  fo  backward  ;  efpe- 
cially  in  the  beginning,  till  we  are  acouainted  with 
\'i.  O  how  mmy  who  can  eafily  bring  their  hearts  to 
ordinary  duties,  as  reading,  hearmg.  praying,  con- 
ferring, could  never  yet  in  all  tiieir  lives,  bring  them, 
C  c 


302  The  Saints'^  Everlastitig  Rest. 

and  keep  them  to  a  heavenly  contemplation  one  half 
hour  together  !  Confider  here,  reader,  as  before  the 
Lord,  whether  this  be  not  thine  own  cafe.  Thou  haft 
known  that  heaven  is  all  thy  hopes  ;  thou  knoweft 
thou  muft  fhortly  be  turned  hence,  and  that  nothir.g 
below  can  yield  thee  reft  :  thou  knoweft  alio  that  a 
ftrange  heart,  a  feldom  apd  carelefs  thinking  of 
heaven,  can  fetch  but  little  comfort  thence  :  and  doft 
thou  yet  for  all  this  let  flip  thy  opportunities,  when 
thou  fhouldft  walk  above,  and  live  with  God  ?  Doft 
thou  commend  the  fweetnefs  of  an  heavenly  life,  and 
yet  didft  never  once  try  it  thyfclf  ?  But  as  the  ftuggard 
that  ftrctched  himfelf  on  his  bed,  and  cried,  O  that 
this  were  working  ?  So  doft  thou  live  at  thy  eafe,  and 
lay,  O  that  I  could  get  my  heart  to  heaven  !  How 
many  read  bocks,  and  hear  fermons,  in  expeftation  to 
hear  of  fomc  eafy  courfe,  or  to  meet  with  a  fliorter 
cut  to  comforts,  than  ever  they  are  like  to  find  ?  And 
if. they  can  hear  of  none  from  tue  preachers  of  truth  ; 
they  will  fnatch  it  with  rejoicing  from  the  teachers  of 
faliehood  ;  and  prefently  applaud  the  excelK-ncy  of  the 
doctrine,  becaufe  it  hath  fitted  iheir  lazy  temper  ;  and 
think  there  is  no  other  dciTtrine  will  comfort  the. foul, 
becaufe  it  will  not  comfort  it  \vith  hearing  and  look- 
ing on.  And  while  they  pretend  enmity  only  to  the 
law,  they  oppofe  the  eafier  conditions  of  tlie  gofpel, 
and  caft  off  the  burden  which  all  muft  bear  that  find 
reft  to  their  fouls:  the  Lord  of  H^ht,  and  fpirit  of 
comfort,  Ihew  thefc  men  in  time,  a  lurer  way  for  laft- 
ing  comfort.  It  was  an  eftabhlhed  law  among  the  Ar- 
gi.  That  if  a  man  were  perceived  to  be  idle  and  lazy, 
he  muft  give  an  account  before  the  magiftrate,  how  he 
came  by  his  vi£lualb  ^nd  nianitenance  :  and  fure  w  hen 
I  fee  thefe  men  lazy  in  the  ufe  of  God's  appoint- 
ed means  for  comfort,  I  cannot  but  queftion  how 
they  come  by  their  coniforts  :.  I  would  they  would  ex- 
amine it  thoroughly  thtnifelves  :  for  God  w.ill  re- 
quire an  account  of  it  from  them.     Idknefs,  and  not 


'^he  Stiints^  Ever  lasting  "Rest,  303 

improving  the  truth  in  painful  duty,  is  ilie  common 
cauie  of  men's  fe.eking  comfort  from  error:  even  as 
the  people  of  Ifrael,  when  they  had  no  comfortable 
anfvver  from  God,  becaufe  of  their  own  fm  and  r.c'glcd\, 
would  run  to  feek  it  from  the  idols  of  the  heathens  : 
fo  when  fnen  are  falfe-hcarted,  and  the  Spirit  of  truth 
denies  them  comfort,  becaufe  they  deny  him  obedience, 
tliey  will  feek  it  from  a  lying  ipirit. 

My  advice  to  fiich  a  lazy  Tinner,  is  this  :  as  thou  art 
convicted  that  this  work  is  neceffary  to  thy  comfort 
io  refolvedly  fet  upon  fi  :  if  thy  heart  draw  back,  and 
be  undifpofed,  force  it  on  With  the  command  of  rea- 
fon  ;  anJ  if  thy  reafon  begin  to  difpute  the  wck,  force 
it  with  producing  the  command  of  God  ;  and  tjuicken 
it  with  the  confideration  of  thy  neceffity,  and  tlie  other 
motives  before  propounded  :  and  let  the  inforcements 
that  brought  thee  to  tl.c  work,  be  ftdl  in  thy  mind  to 
quicken  thee  in  it.  Do  not  let  fuch  an  incomparable 
treafure  lie  before  thee,  whilll  thou  lieft  ftill  with  thy 
hand  in  thy  bofom  ;  let  not  thy  life  be  a  continu'al  vex- 
ation, which  might  be  a  continual  leait,  and  ail  be- 
caufe thou  wilt  not  be  at  the  pains.  When  thou  haft 
once  tailed  the  fweetnefs  of  it,  and  a  little  nfed  thy 
heart  to  the  work,  thou  wilt  fir.d  the  pains  thou  takeft 
abundantly  recompenfed.  Only  fit  not  dill  with  a  dif- 
coiiiblace  Ipirit-,  v/hiic  comforts  grow  befci'_  thine  eyes. 
Neither  is  it  a  few  formal,  lazy,  running  thoughts, 
that  will  fetch  thee  this  confolution  from  above  ;  iio 
more  than  a  few  lazy  formal  words  will  prevail  with 
God  inflead  of  fervent  prayer.  I  know  Chrift  is  the 
fountain,  and  I  know  this,  as  every  other  gift?  is  of 
God  :  but  yet  if  thou  alk  my  advice,  how  to  obtain 
thcfe  waters  of  confulation  ;  1  mull  tell  thee,  there  is 
fomething  alfo  for  thee  to  do  :  thcgofpel  hatfc  its  cofi- 
ditions,  and  ivoiks,  though  not  fuch  impoilible  ones, 
as  the  law  :  Chrift  hath  his  yoke  and  his  burden,  though 
cafy,    and   thou   mufl  take   it  up,  or  thou    7.'i!t  never 


504.  The  Sa'inU''  Everlasting  Rest, 

find  reft  to  ihy  fcul.  I  know  fo  far  as  rcu  are  fplrit- 
ual,  you  need  not  all  this  Ariving  and  violence,  but 
that  ii>  but  in  part,  and  in  part  you  are  carnal  ;  and  as 
long  as  it  is  fc,  there  is  no  talk  of  cal'e.  It  was  the 
Parthians'  cullom,  that  none  nuifl  give  their  children 
any  incat  in  the  morning,  before  they  faw  the  fweat 
on  their  faces  ;  and  you  fliall  find  this  to  be  God's 
moft  uluai  courfe,  not  to  give  his  children  the  tafle 
of  his  delights,  till  they  begin  to  fweat  in  feekiiig  af- 
ter them.  Therefore  lay  them  both  together,  and 
judge  Avhetht^r  an  heavenly  life,  or  thy  cafe  be  bet- 
ter ;  and  make  the  choice  accordingly.  Yet  this  let 
me  fay,  thou  needll  not  exjJcnd  thy  thoughts  more 
than  now  thou  doft ;  it  is  but  only  to  employ  them 
better  :  I  prefs  thee  not  to  bufy  thy  ni.ind  much  more 
than  thoa  doft  ;  but  to  bufy  it  upon  better  and  more 
pleafant  objefts.  Employ  but  fo  many  fcrious  thoughts 
every  day,  upon  the  excellent  glory  of  the  life  to 
come,  as  thou  nov/  employtll  on  the  affairs  in  the 
v/orld:  nay,  as  thou  daily  lofcft  on  vanities,  and  tliy 
heart  will  be  at  heaven  in  a  Ihort  fpace. 

7.  It  is  alfo  a  dangerous  hinderance  to  content 
•urfclves  with  the  mere  preparatives  to  this  heavenly 
life,  while  we  are  flrangers  to  the  life  itiVlf :  when 
we  take  up  with  the  mere  fludies  of  heavenly  things, 
and  the  notions  and  thoughts  of  tlitra  in  our  brain, 
or  the  talking  of  them  with  one  another,  as  if  this 
•were  all  that  makes  ur.  heavenly  people.  'J'htre  is 
none  in  more  danger  of  this  fnare,  than  thofc  that  are 
much  in  public  duty,  efpecially  preachers  of  the  gof- 
pel.  O  how  eaPily  may  they  be  deceived  h.ere,  while 
they  do  nothing  mere  than  read  of  heaven,  and  ftudy 
fcf  heaven,  and  pieach  of  heaven,  and  pray,  and  talk 
of  heaven  1  What,  is  not  this  the  heavenly  .life  ?  O 
that  God  would  reveal  to  our  hearts  the  danger  of 
this  fnare  I  Alas,  all  this  is  but  mere  preparation  : 
this  is  not  th€   life   we  fpeak  of,  thoug;h  it  is  a   hcip 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  5b5 

thereto.  I  entreat  every  one  of  my  brethren  in  tli^ 
niinidry,  that  theyfscirch  and  watch  a^'uinft  this  temp- 
tation :  this  is  but  gathering  th.e  mateviuls,  and  not 
Xht  erecting  the  building-  :  tl'is  is  but  gr.lhfiing  ihan- 
na  for  others,  not  eating  nnd  digefting  ouifelves:  a6 
he  that  fits  at  home  may  ftudy  geography,  and  draA*- 
moft  exadl  defcripticns  of  countries,  and  yet  never 
fee  them,  Hor  travel  towards  them  :  fo  may  yoil  de- 
fcribe  to  others  the  joys  of  heaven,  and  yet  never  come 
iitar  it  in  your  own  heaits  :  if  you  fhotild  fludy  o£ 
nothing  but  Preaven  -while  you  lived,  and  preach  of 
nothing  but  heaven  to  your  people,  yet  Hiight  your 
own  hearts  be  (Irangers  to  it  ;  we  arfe  under  "a  more 
iubtlc  temptation  than  other  mtn,  to  draw  us  from 
this  heavenly  life  :  if  our  employments  lay  at  a  great- 
er diflance  from  heaven,  we  Ihould  wot  ht  fo  apt  to  be 
thus  deluded:  but  when  VvC  find  ourfelves  Employed 
upon  nothing  clfe,  we  are  eafier  drawn  to  take  up 
here.  Studying  and  preaching  of  heaven  is  liker  to 
an  heavenly  life,  than  thinking  and  talking  of  the 
world  is,  and  the  likcnefs  it  is  that  may  deceive  us  : 
this  is  to  die  the  mod  miferable  death,  even  to  famifii 
ourfelves,  becaufe  we  have  bread  on  our  tables,  and  to 
die  for  thlrft  while  we  draw  water  for  others  :  think- 
ing it  enough  that  v/e  have  daily  to  do  w^ith  it,  th.-.igli 
we  never  drink  it. 


CHAP.     IV 


Some  general  Helps  to  Hea^jenly-mhidedness, 

'IHfAVING  thus  Qiewed  thee  what  hinderan.ces  will 
Xn  rcfift  thee  in  t!ie  work,  I  Ihail  now  lay  down 
feme  pofitivc  helps.  But  firl\,  I  expe'dl  that  thou  re- 
fol've  againi^  the  fore-mentioned  impedim';:iits,  tliat 
C  c  2 


506 


ihe  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 


thou  read  them  feiioiifly,  and  avoid  tiiem  I'aitl.fL'lly,  or 
die  thy  labcur  will  be  all  in  vain  ;  thou  do{i  but  go 
about  to  reconcile  li^^ht  anddarknefs,  Chriiland  Beliai, 
heaven  and  hell  in  thy  Ipirit  ;  I  mud  tell  thee  a]fo,that 
1  expea  thy  promiie,  I'aiihiully  to  fet  upon  the  helps 
•xvhich  I  preicribe  thee  ;  and  that  the  reading  of  them 
v,ill  not  bring-  heaven  into  thy  lieart,  but  in  their  con- 
Aant  praftlcc;  the  Spirit  will  do  it. 

As  thou  valtiefl then  thcfe  fcretaQes  of  l:eriven,  make 
confcience  of  performing  theie  folloT.ing  duties: 

1.  Know  heaven  to  be  the  only  treafure,  and  la- 
tour  to  know  what  a  treafure  it  is  :  be  convinced 
that  thou  hafi:  no  other  happinefs,  and  be  convinced 
what  happir.efs  is  there  :  if  thou  dofl:  not  foundly  be- 
lieve it  to  be  the  chief  gojd,  thou  wilt  never  fet  thy 
iiCart  upon  it;  and  this  conviction  mud  fink  into  .thy 
a^e<!^ions  :  for  if  it  be  only  a  notion,  it  will  have!  lit- 
tle operation. 

£;.  Labour  as  to  know  heaven  to  be  the  only  hap- 
j^'inefs;  fo  alfo  to  be  thy  happinefs.  Though  the 
J-aioV'ledge  of  excellency  ?.nd  fuitablenefs  may  ftir  up 
th?',  love  which  worketh  by  defiie,  yet  there  muft  be 
the  knowledge  of  our  intcrclt  or  propriety  to  the- 
fetting  at  work-  our  love  of  conipl«cency.  We  may 
t..nfci"o  /'ervcii  to  be  the  bell  condition,  though  we 
ti'-fpair  of  e^ijoying  it  ;  and  we  may  dclire  and  feek 
it,  if  've  fee  lIic  obtaimivnit  to  be  but  probable  ;  but 
T.e  Cc.i)  j.cver  delightfully  rcjuicc  in  it,  till  we  are 
perfuadeu  of  our  tit  e  to  it.  What  comfort  is  it  to  a 
man  th:it  is  naked  to  fee  the  rich  attire  of  others  ? 
Or,  to  a  man  thac  hath  not  a  bit  to  put  in  his  mouth, 
to  fee  a  feall  wwich  he  mult:  not  talk  of?  AVhatde- 
lig'it  hath  a  maii  that  hath  r.ot  a  houie  to  put  his  head 
in,  to  fee  the  fu;r.pti-OL;s  buildings  of  others  r  Would 
not  all  this  rather  incrcafe  his  anguifli,  and  make  him 


The  Saints''  Everla.^ting  Rest,  307 

more  fcnfible  of  his  ir.ifiiry  ?  So,  fcr  "a  n^an  to  know 
the  excellencies  oT  heaven,  and  not  to  know  whether 
he  ihallevcr  enjoy  them,  may  well  raife  d^{ire  to  let k 
it,  but  it  will  raiie  but  little  joy  and  content. 

3.  Another  help  to  the  fcre-taQe  of  refl  is  tiiis  :  la- 
bour to  apprehend  how  near  it  is  :  think  ferioully  of 
its  fpeedy  approach.  That  which  we  think  is  near 
at  hand,  we  are  more  fen  dole  of  than  that  which  we 
behold  at  a  diiUnce.  When  we  hear  of  war  or  famine 
in  another  country,  it  troublcth  us  not  fo  much  ;  or 
if  we  hear  it  propheficd  of  a  long  time  hence,  fo  if 
^Te  hear  of  plenty  a  great  T.'ay  off  or  of  a  golden  age 
that  fliall  fcdl  out,  who  knows  when,  this  never  re- 
joiceth  us.  But  if  jeidgments  or  mercies  draw  near, 
then  th-^y  kffcft  us.  This  makes  men  think  on  hea- 
ven io  infenlibly,  becaiile  they  conceit  it  at  a  great 
diiUnce  :  they  look  on  it  as  twenty  or  thirty,  or 
forty  years  off;  and  tiiis  it  is  that  dulls  their  fenfe. 
As  wickv'd  men  are  ieari^fs  and  fenfr.lefs  of  judgment, 
bccaufe  che  fent  jnce  is  j«ot  ip.^edily  executed  ;  f)  are 
the  good  deceived  of  their  coml-its,  by  fupj.  ofmg 
them  further  ofi'  than  thfey  are.  H  nv  n-.uch  better 
were  it  to  receive  the  fentence  oi  death  in  curfelves, 
and  to  look  on  eternity  as  near  at  hand  ?  Surely, 
reader,  then  ftandeft  at  the  door,  and  hundreds  of  dif- 
eafes  are  ready  waiting  to  open  the  door  and  let  thee 
in.  Arc  not  che  thirty  or  forty  years  of  thy  life  that 
are  pud,  cpaickly  gone?  Are  they  licv  a  very  litlile 
time  wlien  thju  lookcll  back  en  tliem  ?  And  .v ill  not 
all  the  red  be  flionly  fo  too  ?  Do  not  days  and  nights 
come  very  thick?  i3oflthou  not  feel  tliac  build.uig  of 
flelh  to  Ihake,  and  perceive  thy  hoare  of  clay  to  tot- 
ter '.  Look  on  thy  glali,  fee  how  it  runs  ;  look  on  thy 
watch,  how  iaft  it  goeth  :  ^wiat  a  Ihort  riioujent  is 
between  us  and  our  nil  ;  what  a  ftep  is  it  iVcni  iience 
to  evcrladingnefs  !  While  1  ?.ni  thinking  and  v/riting 
of  it,  it  hrdkth  near,  and  I  am  even  entering  into  k 


r:CS  1  he  Saint6 ■  Evcrlastln p-  Rest, 

o 

Ijtfcre  I  am  ;r>v.-ife.  V/Kile  thou  art  reading  this,  it 
poficth  en,  and  thy  life  will  be  gone  as  a  tale  that  is 
told.  Mayell  thou  not  eaiily  foreiee  thy  dying  time, 
and  look  upon  thyf'.lf  as  ready  to  depart  ?  It  is  but  a 
few  days  till  thy  friends  fliall  lay  thee  in  the  grave, 
and  others  do  the  like  for  them.  If  you  verily  believ- 
ed you  ihould  die  to-morrow,  hov/  l^rioufly  would 
yon  think  cf  heaven  to-^night  1  The  true  apprchenfions 
cf  the  nearnefs  to  eternity,  doth  make  men's  thoughts 
of  it  quick  and  piercing;  put  life  into  their  fears  and 
forrows,  if  they  be  unfit  :  and  into  their  defires  and 
joysj  if  they  have  alTurance  of  its  glory- 

4.  Another  help  to  this  is,  to  he  much  in  ferious 
difccurfing  cf  it,  efpccialiy  with  thofe  that  can  fpeak 
from  their  hearts.  It  is  pity  (faith  Mr.  Bolton}  that 
chiiftii'Jis  fhould  ever  meet  together,  without  fomc 
talk  of  their  meeting  in  heaven  :  it  is  pity  fo  much 
preticus  time  is  fpent  in  vain  diiccuifcs,  and  ufelefs 
difputts,  and  not  a  fcber  word  of  heaven.  Methinks 
ve  fliould  meet  together  on  purpofe  to  wani\  our 
fpirits  with  difcourfing  of  our  reft.  To  hear  a  mi- 
Tiirter  or  private  chriflian  fet  forth  that  glorious  ftate, 
■with  power  and  life  from  the  promifcs  of  the  gofpel, 
methinks  Tnould  make  Us  fay,  as  the  two  difciples, 
Did  notour  hearts  burn  \Jtthin  us^  while  he  tucs  t>/e/.- 
ing  to  us  the  scripture?  While  he  was  opening  to  us 
the  windows  cf  heaven  ?  Get  then  together  fellow- 
chriftlans,  and  talk  cf  tl.e  affairs  of  your  country  ai'd 
kingdom,  and  comfort  one  another  with  fuch  words. 
This  may  make  oui  hearts  revive  within  us,  as  it  did 
Jacob's  to  hear  the  meffage  that  called  him  to  Golhen, 
and  tu  fee  the  chariots  that  fliould  bring  him  to  Jcfeph. 
O  that  we  were  furnilhed  with  fK;Il  and  refoluiicn  to 
turn  the  llream  of  men's  common  difcourfe  to  tiiefc 
m.ore  fublime  and  precious  tilings  !  And  when  men  b(i« 
gin  to  talk  of  thing?  unpicfifable,  that  we  could  tell 
hjw  to  put  ill  a  word  for  Leaven. 


The  Saints''  Everla':ting  Re^t,  309 

5.  Ancther  help  is  this,  make  it  thy  bufinefs  in 
every  duty,  to  wind  up  thy  affcdlions  nearer  heaven. 
A  man's  •iw'ca!nn»t.nt?  from  God  are  ?.nlwcrable  to  his 
own  delires  and  ends  :  that  which  he  (incerely  leeks 
he  finds;  God's  end  in  the  inftitution  of  his  ordinan- 
ces was,  that  they  be  ac  lb  m  my  fleppir.i^^-ftones  to 
our  refl,  and  as  ihe  ftairs  by  which  (in  fub  :)rdinatioii 
to  Chrift)  we  may  daily  ai'ccnd  unto  it  in  our  affbdli- 
ons  :  L^t  this  bs  thy  end  in  ufing  them,  as  it  was 
God's  end  in  ord;iinin;^-  them  ;  and  doubtlefs  they 
will  not  be  uniuccefsful.  Men  that  are  Icparated  by 
fea  and  land,  caii  yet  by  letters  cany  on  great  trades, 
even  to  the  value  of  tlieir  whole  eltate  :  and  may  not 
a  chriflian  in  the  wife  in'provement  of  duties,  drive 
on  this  happy  trade  for  rtft  r  Come  not  therefore  with 
any  lower  ends  to  duties  :  renounce  familiarity,  cuf- 
tomarinefs  and  applaufe.  When  thou  kneeiefl  down 
in  fee  ret  or  public  prayer,  let  it  be  in  hope  to  get  thy 
heart  nearer  God  before  thou  rifeil  off  thy  knees  : 
when  thou  openefl  thy  bible  or  other  books,  let  it  be; 
with  this  hope,  to  meet  with  fomepaffage  of  divine  truth, 
and  fome  fuch  bleffings  of  the  Spirit  with  it,  as  may 
raife  thine  alf^clions  nearer  heaven;  when  thou  art 
letting  thy  foot  out  of  thy  door  to  go  to  the  public 
worlhip,  fay,  I  hope  to  meet  with  ibmewhat  frora 
God  that  may  raife  my  affedions  before  I  return;  I 
hope  the  Spirit  will  give  me  the  meeting,  and  fweet- 
en  my  heart  with  tliufe  celeflial  delights  ;  I  hope  tiiat 
Chrift  will  appear  to  me  in  the  v/ay,  and  iiiinc  about 
me  with  light  from  heavsn,  and  let  me  hear  his  in- 
llructing  and  reviving  voice,  and  caufe  the  fcales  to 
fall  from  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  fee  more  of  that  glory 
than  I  ever  yet  law  ;  I  hope  before  I  return  to  my 
lioufe,  my  Lord  will  take  my  heart  in  hand,  and 
bring  it  within  the  view  of  reit,  and  fet  it  before  his 
Father's  prefence,  that  I  may  return,  as  the  (hepiierds 
from  the  lieavenly  viiion,  glorifying  and  praifiHg 
God.     Remember   alio  to  pray  for  thy  teacht'r,  tlr.n 


810  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

God  %voukl  put   fome  divine  meffage    into  his    mouth 
which  may  leave  an  heavenly  rcliflion  tliyipiiit. 

Kthefe  were  our  ends,  and  this  our  courfe  when 
we  fet  to  duty,  v/e  fhould  not  be  lb  flrangc  as  we  are 
to  heaven. 

6.  Another  help  is  this  ;  make  an  advantage  of 
every  object  thou  feeft,  and  of  every  p^ifrag-e  of  Divine 
Providence,  and  of  every  thing  thfet  befids  thee  in  thy 
labour  and  calling,  to  mind  thy  foul  of  its  approach- 
ing reft.  As  all  providences  and  creatures  are  means 
to  our  reft,  fo  do  they  point  us  to  that  aa  their  end. 
Every  creature  hath  the  name  of  God  and  of  our  final 
i-eft  written  upon  it,  which  a  confiderate  believer  may 
as  truly  diiccrn,  as  he  can  read  upon  a  hand  in  a  crofs- 
way  the  name  of  the  town  or  city  it  points  to.  This 
fpiritual  ufe  of  creatures  and  providences  is  God's 
great  end  in  beftowing  them  on  man  :  and  he  that  over- 
looks this  end,  muft  needs  rob  God  of  his  ciiief  praife, 
and  dei;y  hiiu  the  greatcft  part  of  his  thanks.  This 
relation  that  our  prefent  mercies  have  to  otlr  great 
eternal  mercies,  is  the  very  quintelTfnce  and  fplrit  of 
all  thefc  mercies;  therefore  do  they  lofe  the  very  fpi- 
rit  of  all  tncir  mcrcic-s,  and  take  nothing  but  the  hulks, 
who  overlook  this  relation,  and  draw  not  forth  the 
fvi'eetnefs  of  it  in  their  contemplations.  God's  fweet- 
eft  dealings  with  us  would  net  be  hc\lf  fo  iweet  as  they 
are,  if  they  did  not  Inti)na:e  Ifime  further  Iweetnefs. 
As  ourfelves  have  a  fleihly  and  ipiriiual  fubftance,  fo 
have  our  mercies  a  fleihly  ancl.  ip- ritual  ufe,  and  are 
fitted  to  the  ncurifhing  of  both  .aw  parts.  He  that 
receives  the  carnal  part  and  no  m:)re,  may  have  liis 
body  comforted  by  them,  but  not  his  I'oul.  O  there- 
fore that  chiiflians  were  fkilled  in  tir.s  art  1  You  can 
open  your  bibi.s.  afid  read  there  of  Cod  and  of  glory  : 
O  learn  to  op;;n  the  ct-eatures,  and  the  level  al  paifages 
of  Provid'.'nct,  to  read  of  God  and  glory  there.     Ger- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  311 

tainly  by  fuch  a  fkilral  Improvement  we  mip,ht  have 
'A.  fuller  tafte  of  Chiifl  ami  heaven,  in  every  bit  we  cat, 
and  in  every  draught  we  drink,  tlian  moft  men  have  in 
the   ufe  of  the  facrament. 

If  thou  profper  in  the  world,  let  it  make  thee  more 
fenfible  of  thy  perpetual  profperity  :  If  thou  be  weary 
of  thy  labours,  let  it  make  thy  thoughts  of  red  more 
fweet :  if  things  go  crofs  with  thee,  let  it  make  thee 
more  earneftly  deiire  that  day,  when  all  thy  fuffiring? 
and  forrow  fhall  ceafe.  Is  thy  body  refrcihed  with 
food  or  fleep  ?  remember  the  inconceivable  refreHiings 
"•with  Chrift.  Doft  thou  hear  any  news  that  makes 
thee  glad  ?  remember  what  glad  tidings  it  will  be 
to  hear  the  found  of  the  trump  of  God,  and  the  ab- 
folving  fentence  of  Chrifl  our  judge.  Art  thou  de- 
lighting thyfelf  in  the  fociety  of  the  faints  ?  remember 
the  everlafting  amiable  fociety  thou  Ihalt  have  v.'ith 
perfecled  fahits  in  red.  Is  God  communic.ating  him- 
ielf  to  thy  fpirit  ?  remember  that  time  when  thy  joy 
fliall  be  full.  Deft  tlicii  hear  or  feel  the  tempeil  of 
Avars,  or  fee  any  cloud  of  blocd  arifm*-  ?  r:"injmber 
the  day  that  thou  flralt  be  houfcd  with  Chnft,  where 
there  is  nothing  but  calinnefs  and  amiable  union,  and 
where  we  (hall  foiace  ourfelves  in  perfedl  pe  ice,  under 
the  wings  of  the  prince  of  peace.  Thus  you  may  fee 
what  advantages  to  an  heavenly  life  every  condition 
and  creature  doth  afford  us,  if  we  have  but  hearts  to 
apprehend  and  improve    them. 

7.  Another  fingular  help  is  this  :  be  much  in  that 
angelical  work  of  praife.  iv^  the  mod  heavenly  fpi- 
rits  will  have  the  moll  heavenly  employment,  fo  the 
more  heavenly  the  employment,  the  more  will  it  make 
the  fpirit  heavenly;  though  the  heart  be  the  fountain 
of  all  our  a<ftions.  yet  do  tiiofe  aflions,  by  a  kind  of 
refleclion,  work  much  on  the  heart  from  whence  they 
fpring  :   the  like  alio  may  be  faid  of  our  ipecches.    So 


S12  The  Sahit.s''  Everlasting  Rest. 

that  the  work  cf  praifing-  God,  being ^the  moft  heaven- 
ly work,  is  likely  to  railc  us  to  the  moft  heavenly 
temper.  Tliis  is  tJie  work  of  tliofe  iaints  and  Jingels, 
and  this  will  be  our  own  ev^rlafting  work  ;  if  we  were 
more  tsken  up  in  this  employment  now,  we  fliould  be 
liker  to  what  we  ihall  be  then.  When  Ariftotle  was 
afked  whiit  he  thought  of  mufic,  he  anfwers,  Jovem 
regue  cancrc,  ncque  citharam  pulsate  ;  that  Jupiter 
did  neither  fing,  nor  play  on  the  harp  ;  thinking  it  an 
iinprofitahlc  art  to  men,  which  was  no  more  delightful 
to  God.  Rut  chrifiinns  may,  better  argue  from  the 
like  ground,  that  Tinging  of  praife  is  a  moft  profitable 
duty,  becanfe  it  is  as  it  were  fo  delightful  to  Gcd 
himlcU,  thrit  he  hath  made  it  his  people's  eternal  work  ; 
for  they  shall  sing'  the  song  of  Mj.*cs^  and  the  song  of 
the  Lamb,  As  delirc,  and  f.iith,  and  hope,  are  of  Ihor- 
ter  continuance  than  love  and  joy  ;  fo  alfo  preaching, 
and  prayer,  and  facraments,  and  all  means  for  confir- 
mation, and  exprefnon  of  faith  and  hope  Ihull  ceafe, 
when  cur  thanks  and  praife,  and  triumphant  eNprelli- 
ons  of  love  and  joy  Hiall  abide  for  ever.  The  liveliefl 
emblem  of  heaven  that  I  know  upon  earth  is  when 
the  people  of  God  in  the  deep  fenfe  of  his  excellency 
and  bounty,  from  hearts  abounding  with  love  and  joy, 
join  together  both  in  heart  and  voice,  in  the  cbeerlul 
and  melodious  finging  of  his  praife.  Thofe  that  de- 
ny the  ufe  of  ringing,  diiclofe  their  unheavenly  unex- 
perienced Jicarts,  as  well  as  their  ignorant  undtrlland- 
ings.  Had  they  felt  the  heavenly  delights  that  many 
of  their  brethren  in  fuch  duties  have  felt,  they  would 
have  been  of  another  mind  1  and  whereas  they  are 
wont  to  qucfiion,  whet'ner  fach  delights  be  genuine, 
or  any  better  tharf  carnal  or  delufive  I  Surely  the  ve- 
ry rclilh  of  God  and  heaven  that  is  in  them,  tlie  ex- 
ample of  the  faints  in  Icrlpture,  whofa  fpirits  have 
been  raifcd  by  the  fame  duty,  and  the  commar.J  of 
fcripture  for  the  ufe  of  this  means,  one  would  think 
fliould  quickly  deftroy  the   con  trover  fy.     And  a   man 


The  Saints''  Everlasttng  Rest,  313 

niriy  as  truly  fay  of  thefe  delights,  as  of  the  tcflimo- 
iiy  of  the  fpirit,  that  they  witnefs  themfelves  to  be  of 
God. 

Little  do  v/e  know  how  we  wrong  onrfelves,  by 
fluitting  out  of  our  prayers  the  praifes  of  God,  or 
Hllowing  them  fo  narrow  a  room  as  we  ufually  do. 
Reader,  I  entreat  thee,  remember  this  :  let  praifes 
have  a  larger  room  in  thy  duties  :  keep  ready  at  hand 
matter  to  feed  thy  praifes,  as  well  as  matter  for  con- 
feffion  and  petition.  To  this  end  (Uidy  the  excellen- 
cies and  goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  as.  frequently  as  thy 
own  neceflities  and  vilenefs  ;  ftudy  the  mercies  which 
thou  haft  received,  and  which  are  promifed  ;  both 
their  own  worth  and  their  aggravating  circumftances, 
as  often  as  thou  ftudieft  the  fins  thou  haft  committed. 
O  let  God's  praife  be  much  in  your  mouths.  Seven 
times  a  day  did  David  praife  him  :  yea,  his  praife 
was  continually  of  him.  As  he  that  ofTereth  praife 
glorifieth  God,  fo  doth  he  moft  rejoice  and  glad  his 
own  foul.  Offer  there  fore  the  sacrijice  of  praise  con- 
tinually :  in  the  midst  of  the  church  let  us  sing  his 
praise, 

T  confefs,  to  a  man  of  a  languifliing  body,  where 
the  heart  faints,  ajid  the  fpirits  are  feeble,  the  cheer- 
ful prailing  of  God  is  more  difficult  ;  becaufe  the  bo- 
dy is  the  foul's  inftrument,  and  when  it  lies  unftring- 
ed,  or  untuned,  the  mufic  is  likely  to  be  according- 
ly. Yet  a  fpiritual  cheerfulnefs  there  may  be  with- 
in, and  the  heart  may  praife,  if  not  the  voice.  But 
where  the  body  is  ftrong,  the  fpirits  lively,  and  the 
heart  cheerful,  and  the  voice  at  command,  what  ad- 
vantage have  fuch  for  this  heavenly  work  ?  With  what 
alacrity  may  they  ling  forth  praifes  ?  O  the  madnefs 
of  healihful  youth,  that  lay  out  this  vigour  of  body 
and  mind  upon  vain  delights,  which  is  fo  fit  for  the 
nobleft  work  of  man  \  And  O  the  finful  folly  of  ma- 
D  d 


314  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest, 

ny  who  drench  their  fplrits  in  continual  fadnef*,  and 
wafte  tlieir  days  in  cc^iplaints  and  groans,  and  To 
mak«  thenifelvcs  unfit  for  this  fwcet  and  heavenly 
ivork  !  that  when  they  Oiould  join  with  tlic  people  of 
God  in  his  praile,  and  delight  their  fouls  in  Tinging 
to  his  name,  thty  are  P.udying  their  miieries,  and  fo 
rob  God  of  iiit.  praifc,  and  tbemfelves  of  their  folacc. 
But  the  greateQ  deflroyer  of  our  comforts  in  this  duty 
is  our  kicking  in  the  tunc  and  melody,  and  fufTering 
the  heart  to  be  all  the  while  idle,  whicii  ftiould  per- 
form the    chief  part  of  t!ie  work. 

8.  Anothtr  thing  I  will  advifc  you  to,  is  this  :  he 
a  careful  obferver  of  the  drawings  of  the  Spirit,  and 
fearful  of  quenching  its  motions,  of  refifting  its  work- 
ings :  if  ever  thy  foul  get  above  this  earth,  and  get 
acquainted  with  this  living  in  heaven,  the  Spirit  of 
God  mufl  be  to  thee  as  the  chariot  to  Elijah  ;  yea, 
the  very  living  principle  by  which  thou  muft  move 
and  afccnd  to  heaven.  O  then  grieve  not  thy  guide, 
quench  not  thy  life  :  if  thou  doft,  no  wonder  if  thy 
foul  be  at  a  lofs  ;  you  little  think  how  much  the  life 
of  all  your  graces  depends  upon  your  ready  and  cor- 
c^'il  obedience  to  the  Spirit:  when  the  Spirit  urgeth 
thee  to  fecret  prayer,  and  thou  refuft^fl  obedience  ; 
%vhen  he  forbids  thee  a  known  tranlgrelEon,  and  yet 
thou  wilt  go  on  ;  when  he  telleth  thee  which  is  the 
"way,  and  which  not,  and  thou  wilt  not  regard,  no 
^vondf  r  if  heaven,  and  thy  foul  be  Hrange  ;  if  thou 
wilt  not  follow  the  Spirit  while  it  would  draw  thee 
to  Chrift,  and  to  duty  ;  how  fliould  it  lead  thee  to 
jieaven,  and  bring  thy  heart  into  the  prefcncc  of  God? 
O  what  bold  accefs  fliall  that  foul  find  in  its  approach- 
es to  the  Almighty,  that  is  accuftomed  to  a  conftant 
obeying  of  the  Spirit  I  And  how  backward,  how  dull, 
and  Arange,  and  afliamcd  will  he  be  to  thefc  addref- 
les,  who  hat<i  long  ufed  to  break  away  from  the  Spi- 
rit that  would  have  guided  hlni  ?  I  beleech  thee  learn 
ircll  this  leffon,  and  try  this  courfe  :  let  not  the  mo- 


The  Saints^  Everlastinnr  Rest,  315 


o 


tions  of  thy  body  only,  but  the  thoughts  of  thy  heart 
be  at  the  Spirit's  beck.  DoH.  thou  not  feel  fometir.ies 
a  ftrong  impulfioa  to  retire  from  the  world,  and  draw 
near  to  God  ?  O  do  not  thou  difobey,  but  take  tlic 
offer,  and  hoift  up  fail  while  thou  maycfi  have  this 
blelTed  gale.  When  this  wind  blows  Rrongert,  thcu 
goefl  fudefi:,  either  backward  or  forward.  The  mora 
©f  this  Spirit  we  refill,  the  deeper  will  it  wour.J,  and 
the  more  we  obey,  thcipeedier  is  our  pace  ;  as  he  goes 
heaviell  that  hath  the  wind  in  his  face,  and  ho  eaiieft 
tliat  hath  it  in  his  back. 


CHAP.     V. 

A  Description  of  heave?ily  Contemplatioiu 

THE  main  thing  intended  is  yet  behind,  and  that 
which  I  aimed,  at  when  I  fet  upon  this  work. 
All  that  1  have  faid  is  but  the  preparation  to  thii.  I 
once  more  entreat  thee  therefore,  as  tl  ou  art  a  man 
that  makert  confcience  of  a  revealed  duty,  and  that 
dareit  not  wilfully  refill  the  Spirit,  as  thou  valueft  the 
high  d-elights  of  a  faint,  and  as  thou  art  faitiiful  to 
the  peace  and  profptrity  of  thine  own  foul,  that  thou 
diligeiitly  lludy  the  dlreftions  following  ;  ar.d  that 
thou  fpcedily  and  faithfully  put  them  in  pradllce  :  I 
pray  thee,  theitfore,  refolve  before  thou  readefl:  any 
further,  and  promife  here  as  before  tlic  Lord,  that 
if  the  following  advice  be  wholcfoiwc  to  thy  fvul^ 
thou  wilt  ferioufly  ftt  thyfelf  to  the  work,  and  tiiJ.t 
no  lazinefs  of  fpirit  fhall  take  tl.ce  off,  nor  Kiurr  luii'- 
nefs  interrupt  tliy  courfc,  but  that  thcu  wilt  appro\e 
thyftlt"  a  doer  of  this  word,  and  not  an  idle  henier 
only.  Is  this  thy  promife,  and  wilt  thou  ftand  toil? 
Relolve,  man,  and  then  I  ilrall  be  ciicourn'?;ed  to  gi\e 


316  7  li  e  Sain  is '  Ever  las  ting  Rest, 

thee  iTiy  advice  ;  only  try  it  tlioroughly,  and  then 
judge  :  if  ill  the  faithful  following  of  this  courfe  thou 
do  not  find  an  increafe  of  all  thy  graces,  and  be  not 
made  more  ferviceable  in  thy  place  ;  if  thy  foul  en- 
joy not  more  fcllowfhip  with  God,  and  thy  life  be 
not  fuller  of  pleafurc,  and  thou  have  not  comfort  rea- 
dier by  thee  at  a  dying  houi-,  and  when  thou  haft 
greateft  need  ;  then  throw  thefe  diredlions  back  in  my 
face,  and  exclaim  againft  me  as  a  deceiver  for  ever  : 
except  God  fnould  leave  thee  uncomfortable  for  a 
little  feafon,  for  the  more  glorious  manifeftation  of 
his  attributes,  and  thy  integrity  ;  and  lingle  thee  out 
as  he  did  Job,  for  an  example  of  confliancy  and  pati- 
ence, which  would  be  but  a  preparative  for  thy  ful- 
lefi  comfort.  Certainly  God  will  not  forfake  this  his 
own  ordinance,  but  will  be  found  of  thofe  that  thus 
diligently  feek  him.  God  hath,  as  it  were,  appoint- 
ed to  meet  thee  in  this  way  :  do  not  thou  fail  to  give 
him  the  meeting,  and  thou  flialt  nnd  by  experience 
that  he  will  not  fail. 

The  duty  which  I  prefs  upon  thee  fo  earneflly,  I 
fliall  now^  defcribe  :  it  is  the  fet  and  folemn  a(rting  of 
all  the  powers  of  the  foul  upon  this  mofl  perfed\  ob- 
je£l  (reft)  by  meditation. 

I  will  a  little  more  fully  explain  the  meaning  of 
this  defcription,  that  fo  the  duty  may  lie  plain  before 
thee.  1.  The  general  title  that  1  give  this  duty  is 
meditation  :  not  as  it  is  preciiely  diftinguifned  from 
cogitation,  confideration,  and  contemplation;  but  as 
it  is  taken  in  the  larger  and  ufual  fcnfc  for  cogitation 
ontliwvr.^  fpiritual.  and  ib  comprehending  coniiderati- 
cn  and  contenjplation. 

That  meditation  is  a  duty  of  God's  ordaining,  not 
or.ly  in  his  written  law,  but  alfo  in  nature  itfelf,  I 
never  met   witk  the  man  that  would   deny  :  but  that 


The  Saints^  Everlaoting-   J^est,  SIT 

It  is  a  duty  conf^ar.tly  praiftilccl,  I  niuri:  with  lorrow, 
deny  :  it  is  in  word  confclTtd  to  be  a  duty  by  all,  buc 
by  the  conftant  neglecl  denitd  by  mod  :  and  (Ikuow 
not  by  what  fatal  lecurily  it  conies  to  pais,  that)  men 
that  dre  very  tender  confcienctd  tcwrads  nii  fl  other 
duties,  yet  as  eafily  overllip  this,  as  if  tliey  knew  it 
not  to  be  a  duty  at  all  ;  they  that  are  prefcntly  trou- 
bled if  they  omit  a  fcrmon,  a  faft,  a  prayer  in  pub- 
lic or  private,  yet  were  never  troubled  that  they  have 
omitted  mcdiration,  peihaps  all  their  life-time  to  this 
very  day  :  though  it  be  that  duty  by  which  all  other 
duties  are  improved,  and  by  which  llie  foul  digefietii 
truths,  and  draweth  forth  their  drength  for  its  nou- 
rifument.  Certainly,  I  tliink,  that  as  a  man  is  but- 
half  an  hour  taking  into  his  Ilomach  that  meat  v/hich 
he  muft  have  feven  or  eight  hours  to  digeft  ;  fo  a 
man  may  take  into  his  underflanding  and  mtmory 
more  truth  in  one  hour,  than  he  is  able  well  to  digelt 
in  many.  Therefore  God  cummanded  Jofluia,  "  That 
the  book  of  the  law  (hould  not  depart  out  of  his  mouth, 
but  that  he  ihould  meditate  therein  day  and  ni-ht  :  tliat 
he  might  obferve  to  do  according  to  that  which  is  writ- 
ten therein."  As  digeflicn  is  the  turning  the  food  Inta 
chyle  and  blood,  and  fpirits  and  fjcfh  ;  fo  meditat!o:i 
rightly  managed,  turncth  the  truths  received  and  re- 
membered into  warm  afi'ecflion,  railed  refolution,  and 
holy  converfation.  Therefore  what  ffcod  thofe  men 
are  likely  to  get  by  fermons  or  providences,  who  are 
unaccuflouied  to  meditation,  you  may  eafiiy  judge. 
And  why  fo  much  preaching  is  lofl:  among  us,  and  uien 
can  run  from  fermon  to  fcrmor,,  and  yet  hH\e  fucii 
langulihing  ftarved  fowls,  I  know  no  tiu^r  caufe  than 
their  ncgledl  of  medication.  If  men  heard  one  hour 
and  meditated  feven  ;  if  they  did  as  conflantly  digcil 
their  fcnnoas  as  they  hear  them,  they  would  tind  an- 
other kind  of  benefit  by  fcrmoii.-; 
fort  of  chriftians  do, 

D  d  2 


o  1 8  The  Sa'mts^ Everlasting  Rest. 

But  becaufe  meditation  is  a  general  word,  and  it  is 
not  all  meditation  that  I  here  intend,  I  flrall  therefore 
lay  down  the  diff  rence  whereby  this  1  am  urging  is 
difcerned  from  all^  other  forts  of  meditation.  And 
the  diiTcrence  is  taken  from  the  adl,  and  from  the  ob- 
ject of  it. 

From  the  ad,  which  T  call  the  fet  and  folemn  a<5l- 
ing  of  all  the  powers  of  the  foul. 

1.  I  call  it  the  ailing  of  them,  for  it  is  aftion  that 
we  are  direfting  you  in  now,  and  not  difpofitions  ;  yet 
thefe  alfo  are  necefTarily  prefuppofed  :  it  muil  be  a  foul 
that  is  qualified  for  the  work,  by  the  fiipernatural 
grace  of  the  Spirit,  which  nniftbeable  to  perform  this 
heavenly  exercife.  It  is  a  work  of  the  living,  and  not 
of  the  der.d  :  it  is  a  work  of  all  other  the  moft  fpiritu- 
al,  and  therefore  not  to  be  well  performed  by  a  heart 
that  is  merely  carnal. 

2.  I  call  this  meditation  the  afting  of  the  powers 
of  the  foul,  meaning  the  foul  as  lational.  It  is  the 
work  of  the  foul  :  for  bodily  exercife  doth  here  pro- 
fit but  little.  The  foul  hath  its  labour  and  its  eafe,  its 
bufinefs  audits  idlenefs,  as  well  as  the  body  ;  and  di- 
li'yent  ftudents  are  ufually  as  fenfible  of  the  labour  and 
wearinefs  of  their  fpirits,  as  they  are  of  that  of  the 
members  of  the  body.  This  adtioii  of  the  foul  is  it  I 
pcrfuade  thee  to. 

5.  I  call  it  the  ailing  of  all  the  powers  of  the  foul, 
to  difference  it  from  the  conamon  meditation  of  ftn- 
dents,  which  is  ufually  the  mere  employment  of  the 
brain.  It  is  not  a  bare  thinking  that  I  mean,  nor  the 
mere  ufe  of  invention  or  memory,  but  a  bufinefs  of  a 
higher  and  more  excellent  nature. 


'I he  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  319 

The  iinderftandlng  Is  not  the  whole  foul,  and 
therefore  cannot  do  the  whole  work  :  as  God  hath 
made  fcveral  parts  in  man;  to  perform  their  feveral 
offices  for  his  nourifliment  and  life  ;  fo  hath  he.  or- 
dained the  faculties  of  the  foul  to  perform  their  feve- 
ral offices  for  his  fpiritual  life  :  fo  the  underflanding 
mufl  take  in  truths,  and  prepare  them  for  the  will, 
and  it  muft  receive  them,  and  commend  them  to  the 
affirif^ions  :  the  befl  dljeftion  is  in  the  bottom  of  the 
ftomach  :  the  affedlions  are  as  it  were  the  bottom  of 
the  foul,  and  therefore  the  beft  digeflion  is  there: 
while  truth  is  but  a  fpeculation  fwimrKing  in  the 
brain,  the  foul  hath  not  taken  fad  hold  of  it  ;  Chrift 
and  heaven  have  various  excellencies,  and  therefore 
God  hath  formed  the  foul  with  a  pow'er  of  divers 
ways  of  apprehending,  that  fo  we  might  be  capable 
of  enjoying  thofe  excellencies. 

What  good  eould  all  the  glory  of  heaven  have  done 
us  ?  or  what  pleafure  (hould  we  have  had  in  the  good- 
nefs  of  God  himfelf,  if  we  had  been  without  the  af- 
fedlions  of  love  and  joy,  whereby  we  are  capable  of 
being  delighted  in  that  goodnefs  ?  So  alfo,  what 
ftrength  or  fweetnefs  canfl  thou  receive  by  thy  medita- 
tions on  eti-rnity,  while  thou  dofl  not  exercife  thofe 
affi^Ctions  which  are  the  fenfes  of  the  foul,  by  which 
it  muft  receive  this  ftrength  and  fweetnefs  ! 

This  Is  it  that  hath  deceived  chriftians  in  this 
bufinefs  ;  they  have  thought  meditation  is  nothing  but 
the  bare  thinking  on  truths,  and  the  rolling  of  them 
in  the  underftanding  and  memory,  when  every  fchooi- 
boy  can  do  this. 

Therefore  this  is  tlie  great  taik  in  hand,  and  this 
is  the  work  that  I  would  fet  thee  on  ;  to  get  thefe 
truths  from  thy  head  to  tliy  heart :  that  all  the  fer- 
mons  which  thou  haft  heard  of  heaven,  and   nil  the 


Or^  ^'-^i^'  Sarati'*  Evcrhfithig  Rest. 

i;otIor.s  ihou  l-afi  coiiceive<^  of  this  rtR,  may  be  turn- 
ed into  the  blood  and  fpirit  of  affeclion,  and  thou 
niayefl  feel  them  revive  thee,  and  warm  thee  at  the 
heart,  and  mayft  To  think  of  heaven,  as  ht:avcn  fhould 
be  thought  en. 

If  thou  {houIJn:  ftuJy  nothing  but  heaven  while 
thuu  livell,  and  fliouldft  have  thy  thoughts  at  com- 
maiid,  to  turn  them  thither  on  every  occafion,  and  yet 
(houidft  proceed  no  further  than  this  ;  this  were  not 
the  naeditation  that  I  intended  :  as  it  is  thy  whole 
foul  that  nuiftpoflcfs  God  hereafter,  fo  niuft  the  whole 
in  a  lower  manner,  poffefs  him  here.  I  have  fliewii 
you  in  the  beginning  of  this  treatife,  how  the  foul 
muft  enjoy  the  Lord  in  glcry,  to  wit,  by  knowing, 
by  loving,  by  joying  in  him  :  why,  the  very  fame 
way  mult  thou  begin  thy  enjoyment  here. 

So  much  as  thy  underitanding  and  affections  are 
fincerely  adted  upon  God,  fo  iiiuch  doft,  thou  enjoy 
him  :  and  this  is  the  happy  work  of  this  meditation. 
So  that  you  fee  here  is  fomewhat  more  to  be  done, 
than  bjijcly  to  remember  and  think  of  heaven  :  as  run- 
ning, and  futh  like  labours,  do  net  only  llir  a  hand  or 
foot,  but  drain  and  exercifc  the  whole  body  ;  fo  doth 
meditation  the  whole  foul. 

As  tlie  whole  was  filled  with  fin  before,  fo  the 
whole  muf\  be  filled  with  God  now  ;  as  St.  Paul  faith 
of  knowledge,  and  gifts,  and  faith  to  remove  moun- 
tain^;, that  if  thcu  hall  all  thefe  without  love,  thou 
art  but  as  a  suiindlng  brass,  or  as  a  tinkling  cymbal,  fo 
I  may  fay  of  the  exercile  of  thefe,  if  in  this  work  of 
meditation,  thou  exercife  knowledge,  and  gifts,  and 
faith  of  miracles,  and  not  love  and  joy,  thou  dofl  no- 
thiiig  ;  if  thy  meditation  tends  to  fill  thy  note  book 
with  notions  and  good  fayings  concerning  God,  and 
not  thy  heart  with  longings  after  him,  and  delight  in 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest,  321 

hiin,  for  augl/i;  I  know  thy  book  is  as  much  a  chri[llan 
as  thou. 

I  call  this  meditation  fet  and  folemn,  to  difference 
it  from  that  which  is  occafionai.  As  there  is  prayer 
which  is  folemn,  when  we  fet  ourfelves  wholly  to  the 
duty  ;  and  prayer  which  is  fudden  and  fliort,  com- 
monly called  ejaculations,  when  a  man  in  the  midfl 
of  other  bufinefs,  doth  fend  up  fome  brief  requeft  to 
God:  fo  alfo  there  is  meditation  folemn,  v.hen  we 
apply  ourfelves  only  to  that  work  ;  and  there  is  me- 
ditation which  is  fliort  and  curfory,  when  in  the  midfl 
of  our  bufinefs  we  have  fome  good  thoughts  of  God 
in  our  minds.  And  as  folemn  prayer  is  either  firR:  fet, 
■when  a  chriftian  cbferving  it  as  a  (landing  duty,  doth 
refolvedly  pra<flife  It  in  a  conflant  courl'e;  or  fecond- 
ly,  occafionai,  when  fome  unufual  occafion  doth  put 
us  upon  it  at  a  feafon  extraordinary  :  fo  alfo  medita- 
tion. 

Now,  though  I  would  perfuade  you  to  that  medi- 
tation which  is  mixed  with  your  common  labours, 
and  to  that  wiiich  fpecial  occaGons  diredl  you  to  ;  yet 
thefe  are  not  the  main  things  which  I  here  intend  : 
but  that  you  would  make  it  a  conftant  (landing  duty, 
as  you  do  hearing,  and  praying,  and  reading  the 
fcrlpture,  and  that  you  vrould  folemnly  fet  yourfelves 
about  it,  and  make  it  for  that  time  your  whole  work, 
and  intermix  other  matters  no  more  with  it,  than  you 
would  do  with  praying,  or  other  duties.  Thus  you 
fee  what  kind  of  meditation  it  is  that  we  (peak  of, 
viz.  the  fet  and  folemn  adling  of  all  the  powers  of  the 
foul. 

The  fecond  part  of  the  difference  is  drawn  from  its 
objedl,  which  is  reft,  or  the  mod:  bleffed  eftate  of  man 
in  his  eveilafting  enjoyment  of  God  in  heaven.  Me- 
ditation hatha  large  field  to  walk  in,  and  hath  as  ma- 


422  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

ny  objeds  to  -work  upon,  as  there  are  matters,  and 
lines,  and  words  in  the  icriptures,  as  there  are  known 
creatures  in  the  whole  creation,  ?.ndas  there  are  par- 
ticular difcernable  pafTages  of  Providence  in  the  go- 
vernment of  perfons  and  a^lions  though  the  -world  : 
but  the  meditation  thkt  I  now  direct  you  in,  is  only 
of  the  end  of  all  thefc,  and  of  theic  as  they  refer  to 
that  end  :  it  is  not  a  walk  from  mountains  to  vallies, 
from  fca  to  land,  from  kingdom  to  kingdom,  from 
planet  to  planet  ;  but  it  is  a  walk  f.om  mountains  and 
vallics  to  the  holy  mount  Sion  ;  from  fea  and  land  to 
the*  land  of  the  living  ;  from  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world,  to  the  kingdom  of  faints  ;  from  earth  to  hea- 
ven ;  from  time  to  eternity.  It  is  a  walking  upon  the 
fun,  and  moon  and  flars  ;  it  is  a  walk  in  the  garden  and 
paiadife  of  God.  It  may  feem  far  off;  but  fpirits  are 
quick  ;  whether  in  the  body,  or  out  cf  th«  body,  their 
motion  is  fwift  ;  they  aic  net  fo  heavy  or  dull  as  thefe 
earthly  lumps,  nor  fo  flo^v  of  motion  as  thcfe  clods  of 
fiefh.  1  would  not  have  you  ca^ll  off  your  other  me- 
ditations :  but  furely  as  heaven  kath  the  pre-eminence 
in  perfedlion,  fo  fliould  it  have  the  pre-eminence  alfo 
in  our  meditation:  tliat  %Yhich  will  make  us  mofl  hap- 
py when  v/e  pofTefs  it,  will  m.ake  us  moil  joyful  when 
we  meditate  upon  It;  cfpecially  when  that  meditation 
is  a  degree  ofpofiVffion,  if  it  be  futh  alte;5ting  medi- 
tation us  I  here  defcribe. 

You  need  not  here  be  troubled  with  fear,  leaft  flu- 
dying  fo  much  on  tlitfc  high  matters  ihould  make  you 
mad.  If  I  fet  you  to  meditate  as  much  on  fm  and 
wiath  and  to  Itudy  nothing  but  judgment  and  dam- 
nation, then  you  mieht  fsiar  fuch  an  iffue  .:  but  it  is 
h?a\en,  and  not  hell,  'Jiat  I  would  p-rrfuade  you  to 
vvalk  in  ;  it  is  joy,  and  not  forrow,  that  1  perfuade 
you  to  cxercife^  I  would  urge  you  to  look  on  no  de- 
formed objcd\,  but  only  upon  the  ravidiing  glory  of 
;"aiiit5j  and   -he   unipeiik-ble  cxellcncics    of  the    Gud 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  32S 

•f  g-lory,  and  the  beams  that  ftream  from  the  face  of 
his  Son.  Are  theie  fad  thoughts  ?  Will  it  diltradl  a 
man  to  think  of  his  happincfs  ?  Will  it  diftrail  the 
miferable  to  think  of  mercy?  Or  the  captive  or 
prifoner,  to  forefec  deliverance  ?  Neither  do  I  perfuade 
your  thoughts  to  matters  of  great  difficulty,  or  to 
ftudy  knotted  controverfies  of  heaven,  or  to  fcarch 
out  things  beyond  your  reach.  If  you  fliould  thus 
fct  your  wit  upon  the  tenters,  you  might  quickly  be 
diflra<fled  indeed;  but  it  is  your  affeftions  more  than 
your  inventions  that  muft  be  ufed  in  this  heavenly  em- 
ployment we  fpeak  of.  They  are  truths  which  arc 
commonly  known,  which  your  fouls  mufl  drav/  forth 
and  feed  upon.  The  rcfurreclion  of  the  body,  and 
tke  life  everlafting,  are  articles  of  your  creed,  and 
not  nicer  controverfies.  Methinks  it  fliould  be  llker 
to  make  a  man  mad,  to  think  of  living  in  a  world 
of  wo,  to  think  of  abiding  anuong  the  rage  of  wick- 
ed men,  than  to  think  of  living  with  Chrift  in  blifs  ; 
methinks,  if  we  be  not  mad  already,  it  fiiould  foon- 
erdiflradl  us,  to  hear  the  tempcfts  and  roaring  waves, 
to  fee  the  billows,  and  rocks,  and  fands,  and  gulphs, 
than  to  think  of  arriving  fafe  at  reft.  But  ivisdom  is 
justified  of  all  her  children.  Knowledge  hath  no  ene- 
my but  the  ignorant.  This  heavenly  courfe  was  ne- 
ver fpoke  againll  by  any,  but  thofe  that  never  either 
knew  it,  or  ufed  it.  1  more  fear  the  neglcclof  men 
that  do  approve  it,  Tnith  lofcth  much  more  by 
loofe  friends,  than  by  the  fharpefl  enemies. 


324  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

CHAP.     VI. 

The  fittest  Time  and  Place  for  this  Contem- 
plation^ and  the  Preparation  of  the  Heart 
unto  it, 

THUS  I  have  opened  to  you  the  nature  of  this  du- 
ty ;  I  proceed  to  direA  you  in  the  work  ;  where 
1  fhall,  frst.  {hew  you  how  you  muft  fet  upon  it  ;  se- 
coridlj^  how  you  muft  behave  in  it  ;  and  thirdly  how 
you  fhall  (hut  it  up.  I  adrile  thee,  1.  Somewhat 
concerning  the  time.  2.  Somewhat  concerning  the 
place.  And  3.  Somewhat  concerning  the  frame  of 
thy  fpirit. 

And  1.  for  the  time,  I  advife  thee  that  as  much  as 
may  be,  it  be  fet  and  conftant.  Proportion  out  fuch 
a  part  of  thy  time  to  the  work. 

Stick  not  at  their  fcruple,  who  queftion  the  dating 
of  times  as  fupcrflitious  ;  if  thou  fuit  out  thy  time  to 
the  advant^g■e  of  th^  work,  and  place  no  religion  in 
the  timeiticlf;  thou  necdeft  not  to  fear  left  this  be 
fuperftition.  As  a  workman  in  his  ftiop  v.- ill  have  a 
fet  place  for  every  one  of  his  tools,  or  elfc  vhen  he 
fhould  ufe  it,  it  may  be  to  feck  ;  fo  a  chriftian  fliould 
have  a  fet  time  for  every  ordinary  duty,  or  elfe  ^vhen 
he  ftiould  pra<5^ife  it,  it  is  ten  to  one  but  he  will  be 
put  by  it.  Stated  time  is  a  hedge  to  duty,  and  de- 
fends it  againft  many  temptations  to  omiflion.  God 
hath  ftated  none  but  the  Lord's  day  hlmielf  ;  but  he 
hath  left  it  to  be  ftated  by  ourfelves,  according  to 
every  man's  condition  and  oce^fions,  left  otherwife 
his  law  fhould  have  been  a  burdtn  or  a  fnare.  Yet 
hath  he  left  us  general  rulers,  which  by  the  ufe  of  rea- 
fon,  and  chriftian  prudence,  may  help  us  to  determine 
the  fiiieft  tin:ci. 


Ths  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest.  t%B 

It  is  as  ridiculous  a  qaeftion  of  them  that  afk  us, 
Where  fcripture  coinmands  to  pray  fo  oft,  or  at  fuch 
hours  ?  as  if  they  afked,  Where  the  fcripture  com- 
mands that  the  church  {land  in  fuch  a  pL'tce  ?  or  the 
pulpit  in  fuch  a  phce  ?  or  my  feat  in  fuch  a  place  ? 
or  where  it  commands  a  man  to  read  the  fcripture* 
with  a  pair  of  fpeclacles  ? 

Mod  that  I  have  knowA  trt  argae  a^ainR  a  (lated 
time,  have  at  laft  grown  carelefs  of  the  duty  itfelf,- 
and  fliowed  more  dillike  againft  the  v/crk  than  the 
time.  If  God  gave  me  fo  much  money  or  \realth, 
and  tell  me  not  in  fcripture  how  mucii  fuch  a  poor 
man  mufl  have,  nor  how  much  my  family,  nor  how 
i-Ruch  in  clothes,  and  how  much  in  expence  :  is  it 
jiot  lawful,  yea,  and  necelTary,  that  I  make  the  divi- 
fion  myfelf,  and  allow  to  each  the  due  portion?  So 
if  God  doth  befrow  on  me  a  day  or  week  of  time, 
and  give  ms  fuch  and  fuch  work  to  do  in  this  time, 
and  tell  me  not  how  much  I  fiiall  allot  to  each  work  ; 
certainly  I  muft  make  the  divifion  myfelf,  and  pro- 
jiortion  it  wifely  and  carefully  too.  Though  God 
liath  not  told  you  at  what  hour  you  fiiall  rife  in  the. 
morning,  or  at  what  hours  you  fhall  eat  and  drink  ;' 
yet  your  own  reafon  and  cxperieace  will  tell  you, 
that  ordinarily  you  fliould  obferve  a  ftated  time. 
Neither  let  the  fear  of  cuftomarinefs  and  formality 
deter  you  froai  this.  This  argument  hath  brought 
the  Lord's  fupper  from  once  a  week  to  once  a  quar- 
ter, or  once  a  year  ;  and  it  hath  brought  family  duties- 
■with  too  many  of  late,  from  twice  a  day  to  once  a 
week,  or  once  a  month. 

I  advife  thee  therefore,  if  well  thou  mayd,  to  al- 
low this  duty  a  ftaicd  time,  and  be  as  conltant  in  it, 
as  in  hearing  and  praying  :  yet  be  cautious  in  under- 
iUnding  this.  I  know  this  will  not  prove  every  man*» 
duty  :  fome  have  not  themfelves  and  their  tinie  at  com- 
E  c 


f2S  The  Saints^  Bverlasthi^  Rc$^. 


maiid,  and  therefore  cannot  fet  th^ir  hours  ;  fuch  arc, 
Uioft:  fervants,  and  many  chlldien  of  poor  parents  ;  and 
many  are  fo  poor  that  the  necelTity  of  tlicir  families 
will  deny  them  this  freedo-n.  I  do  not  think  it  the 
duty  of  fuch  to  leave  their  labours  for  this  work  jufl 
at  certain  fet  times,  no  nor  for  prayer.  Of  two  du- 
tics  we  mufl:  choofe  the  greater,  though  of  two  fins 
■we  muft  choofe  neither.  1  think  fuch  perfons  were 
bed  to  be  writchful,  to  redeem  time  as  much  as  they 
can  and  take  their  vacant  opportunities  as  they  fall, 
and  efpecialiy  to  join  meditation  and  prayer,  as  much 
as  they  can,  with  the  labours  of  their  callings.  There 
is  no  fuch  enmity  between  labouring,  and  meditating 
or  praying  in  the  fpirit,  but  that  both  may  be  done 
together  ;  yet  I  fay,  as  Paul  in  another  cafe,  if  thou 
eanst  be  free^  use  it  rather,  Thofe  that  have  more 
fnarc  time,  I  ilill  advife,  that  they  keep  this  duty  to 
a  ftated  time.  And  indeed  it  were  no  ill  huibandry, 
nor  point  of  folly,  if  we  did  fo  by  all  other  duties  ; 
if  wc  confidered  the  ordinary  works  of  the  dny,  and 
fuited  out  a  fit  feafon  and  proportion  of  time  to  every 
T/ork,  and  fixed  this  in  our  memory  and  refolution, 
or  wrote  it  in  a  table,  and  kept  it  in  our  clofets,  and 
never  broke  it  but  upon  unexpecfled  and  extraordinary 
caufes  ;  if  every  work  of  the  day  had  thus  its  appoint- 
ed time,  we  fliould  be  better  ikilled,  both  in  redeem- 
ing time,   -and  performing  duty. 

2.  T  advife  thee  alfo,  concerning  thy  time  for  this 
duty,  that  as  it  be  ftated,  fo  it  be  frequent  ;  jufl  how 
©ft  it  fhould  be,  I  caunot  determine,  becaufe  men's 
conditions  may  vary  it  :  but  in  general,  that  it  be 
frequent,  the  fcripture  requireth,  when  it  mentioneth 
meditating  continually,  and  day  and  night.  Circum- 
ilances  of  our  condition,  may  much  vary  the  circum- 
llance  of  our  duties.  It  may  be  one  man's  duty  to 
hear  or  pray  oftencr  than  another,  and  fo  it  may  be 
in  this  of  meditation  :   but   for  thofe  that  can  conve- 


The  Sahiis'  Evcrlastingr  Rest.  52 ^ 


uiently  omit  ctlier  biiiinefs,  J  advlfe,  that  it  be  once  a 
day  at  leafl.  Though  fcripture  tells  us  not  how  oft'm 
a  day  we  fliould  eat  or  driiik  ;  yet  prudence  and  expe- 
rience will  dire£l  us  twice  or  thrice  a  day. 

Thofe  that  think  tr.ey  (liould  not  tic  then-felvcs  to 
ord<?r  and  number  t»f  duties  ;  but  fliould  then  only  me- 
ditate or  pray,  -.when  they  find  the  Spirit  provoking 
them  to  it,  go  upon  uncertain  and  unchrifiian  grounds, 
I  am  lure,  the  fcriptii re  provokes  vis  to  frequency,  and 
our  necclTity  fccondoth  the  voice  of  fcripture  ;  and  if 
through  my  own  negleft,  or  reGfling  tlic  Spirit,  I  do 
not  And  it  fo  excite  me,  I  dare  not  thercfove  dirobcy 
the  fcripture,  nor  neglecTc  the  neceflities  of  my  own 
foul.  I  ihould  fufped  that  Spirit  which  would  turn  my 
foul  from  conftarxy  in  duty  :  if  the  Spirit  in  fcrijD- 
tiire  bid  me  meditate  or  pray,  I  dare  not  forbear  it, 
becaufe  I  find  not  the  Spirit  v.ithin  me  to  fecond  the 
commaDd  :  if  I  find  not  incitationto  duty  before,  yet 
J  may  find  affiAt.nce  while  I  wait  in  performance.  I 
am>nfraid  of  laying  iny  corruptions  upon  the  Sph'it, 
or  blaming  the  v.'ant  of  the  Spirit's  alfiftance,  wlien 
1  fhould  blaiiie  the  backward uefs  of  my  owe  heart ; 
nor  dare  "1  n^ake  one  corruption  a  pita  for  another  : 
]ior  urge  the  inv/aid  rebellion  of  my  nature,  as  a  rca- 
fon  for  the  outward  difobtdience  of  my  life  ;  and  for 
til"  healing  of  my  nature's  backwardnefs,  I  more  ex- 
pcfft  that  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl  Uiciild  do  it  in  a  way  of 
duty,  than  in  a  way  of  difcbcdience  and  neglect  of 
duty.  Men  that  fall  -on  duty  according  to  the  frame 
of  their  fpirit  only,  ars  like  our  ignorant  vulgar,  t.ho 
think  their  appetite  ihould  be  the  only  rule  of  their 
eating  ;  v,  i^-n  a  wife  man  jucigeth  by  realbn  and  ex- 
perience, lef:  Y/hen  hi«  ai>pciite  is  depraved,  he  llioiild 
cithe]  ij'./oi;:  or-KUjiirn.  Our  uppetite  is  no  fi.rc  rule 
foi  our  lirncs  of  duty  ;  bi.t  the  word  of  God  in  gene- 
ra', and  our  finr /Lual  r-,.jbn,  experience,  necefiity,  and 
convcnieacc  in  ^urticulur,  jnuy  truly  diredt  us. 


523  The  Sairjr  Lz^er lasting  RcsK 

Tlr.ee  Teafons  efpecially  OioliUI  peifuade  tlicc  tv 
fi-equcncy  in  thit;  inedituiion  on  heaven. 

1.  Beci^ufe  feldom  converf.ng  with  lilm  will  breed 
a  (Irangenefs  betwixt  thy  foul  and  Go3  :  frequent  fo- 
ciety  breeds  f?j-.iiliAriry,  and  fanjiiiiiritr  increafeth 
lovt  and  delight,  and  maketh  ns  bold  and  confident  in 
cur  addrcfiVa,  This  is  the  m;;in  end  of  this  duty,  that 
thou  mayrt  have  acquaintance  and  fellowfiiip  "with 
God  therein  ;  therefore  if  thou  crrae  but  ftldom  to 
it,  thou  v/ik  keep  thyfcir  a  r:ra»gcr  fiJU,  and  fo  vr\h 
•f  the  end  of  tljft  ^Yorh. 

3.  Seldomnefs  will  make  thee  imfkilful  in  the  work, 
and  ftrang€  to  the  duty,  as  well  as  to  God.  How 
ciumfily  do  men  fet  their  hands  to  a  work  they  arc 
leldorn  employed  in  I  whereas,  frequency  will  habitu>- 
ate  thy  heart  to  the  work,  and  tlion  wilt  better  know 
the  way  in  which  thou  dally  walked,  yea,  and  it 
will  be  more  eafy  and  delightful  alfo  :  tlie  hill  which 
made  thee  pant  and  blow  at  the  firft  going  up,  thcu 
mayft  run  up  eafily  when  thcu  art  once  accuflomed 
'to  it. 

3.  And  laftly,  Thou  wilt  lofe  that  heat  and  life  by 
Icng  intermiffions,  which  with  m«ch  ado  thou  did  ft 
©btain  in  duty.  If  thou  eat  but  a  meal  in  twQ  or 
three  days,  then  wilt  lofe  thy  ilrength  as  faft  as  thou 
gettefl  it  :  if  in  holy  meditation  thou  get  near  to  Chrlfc, 
«nd  warm  thy  heart  with  the  ire  of  love,  if  thou  then 
tu:-!  away,  and  come  but  feuiois:,  thcu  wilt  foon  re- 
turn to  thy  fgrmc r  coldi):!':;. 

It  is  true,  the  intermixed  ufe  of  other  duties  may 
^o  much  to  the  keeping  thy  heart  above,  efpecially 
fecret  prayer:  but  fieditation  is  the  life  of  molt 
other  duties  ;  and  the  view  of  heavep  is  the  life  qf  pK- 
^itaiion. 


Ths  Saints''  Lveria^th^  Rcrj,  52$f 


Concerning  the  time  of  tVjls  Gi'ty,  I  advife  thee, 
that  thou  cl'.oofe  the  jnoil  rcafonable  time.  All  things 
are  beauvifnl  in  their  fer^ibn.  Unfcafonabiencfs  rway 
lofc  thee  the  fuiit  of  thy  labour  ;  it  may  raife  diRurb- 
anccs  and  i^ifliculties  iji  the  work  ;  yea,  it  may  turn 
a  duty  to  fin  ;  when  the  leafonablcnefs  of  a  dutji  dcth 
irsake  it  eary,doth  remove  intpec^nr.entSs  doth  enibold- 
rn  US  to  the  umlertakihg,  and  ripen  its  frint. 

Th;e  feaions  of  this  cIu'lv  arc  either,  Firsly  ordinary; 
or,  Sc'condfj,  extraordjnr.ry. 

Firsts  The  ordinary  fcafon  of  your  daily  perforiHr 
unce  cannot  be  particularly  detenriined,  othcrwiTe 
God  would  have  deter-.iiincd  it  in  his  word.  Men's 
conditions  of  employment,  and  freedom,  and  bodily 
temper,  are  fo  vaiious,  thiit  the  fanjc  may  be  a  fea- 
fonable  hour  to  one,  which  may  be  unreafon;ible  to 
another.  If  thcii  be  a  fervant,  or  ad  hard  labourer, 
that  thou  hafl  not  thy  time  at'  command,  tliou  mud 
take  that  feafon  wliich  thy  bufinefs  will  befl  afford  : 
cither  as  thou  fitteli  in  the  fl^iOp  at  thy  t.ork,  or  as 
thou  travellefl  on  the  way,  or  as  thou  Hell  waking- ij-i 
tiie  nTght.  Every  itian  befl  knows  his  own  time, 
even  when  he  Ifuth  the  leail  to  hinder  him  in  t];e 
world  :  but  fof  th(5re  Whole  neceffities  tie  them  not 
fo  clofe,  bat  that  they  may  choofc  v.  liat  time  of  the 
day  thty  will,  my  advice  to  fuch  is,  tliat  they  care- 
fully oblcrve  the  temper  of  their  body  and  mindj  and 
mark  when  they  find  their  iplrits  moft  ?. olive  and  fit 
For  contemplation,  and  pirch  upon  that  as  the  Aaltd 
time.  Some  men  are  freel^  for  clu:'ieo  \/hen  they  :.rc 
faCiiiig,  and  fome  are  then  the  unfi'ttefi  of  all.  Evtr/ 
man  is  the  meetcfl  judge  fof  hiir.f;.-]f.  'i'he  time  1 
have  ahvays  fcuiid  fitt.'il  fur  myfLdl",  is,  the  evening, 
from  itin-fetting  to  the  twilight  ;  a:;J  fouieiimti  ia  ;he 
a»ight  when  it. is  warm  and  clear. 

E  e    2 


320  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Ke^i, 

Tiie  Lord's  day  is  a  time  exceedingly  feafonr.ble  for 
this  exerciic.  When  fliouid  %Te  more  feafonably  con- 
template on  reft,  than  on  tlirt  day  which  doth  typify 
it  to  us  ?  Neither  do  I  think  that  typifying  life  is 
cc.iff.d,  becaufe  the  antityj)c  is  Fot  fully  come.  How- 
ever it  being  a  day  appropriated  to  worftilp  and  fpi- 
ritual  duties,  we  fhould  never  exclude  this  duty, 
which  is  fo  eminently  fpii  itual.  I  think  verily  this 
is  the  chief  work  of  a  chrlftian  fabbatli,  and  mofl 
agreeable  to  the  intent  of  its  pofitive  inlHtution* 
What  fitter  time  to  convcrfe  with  our  Lord,  than  on 
that  day  which  he  hath  appropriated  to  fuch  employ- 
ment, and  therefore  called  it  the  Lord's  day  ?  What, 
fitter  day  to  afcend  to  heaven,  tban  that  on  which 
•ur  Lord-  did  arife  from  earth,  and  fully  triumph 
over  death  and  hell,  and  tak«  pofTefiion  of  heaven 
before  us  ? 

Two  forts  of  chriflians  I  would  entreat  to  take  no- 
tice of  this  efpecially. 

1.  Thofe  that  fpend  the  Lord's  day  only  in  pub- 
lic worfliip :  either  through  the  neglefl  of  medita- 
tion, or  elfe  by  their  over-much  exercifc  of  the  pub- 
lic, allowing  no  time  to  private  duty  :  though  there 
be  few  that  offend  in  this  kind  ;  yet  fome  there  are, 
and  a  hurtful  miftake  to  the  foul  it  is.  They  will 
grow  but  in  gifts,  if  they  exercii'e  but  their  gifts  in 
outward  performances'. 

2.  Thofe  that  have  time  on  the  Lord's  day  for 
idlenefs  and  vain  difcowrfe,  and  find  the  day  longer 
than  they  know  how  well  to  fpend  :  wert  thefe  but 
acquainted  with  this  duty  of  contjemplation,  they 
would  need  no  other  recreation  ;  they  would  think 
the  longeft  day  fhort  enough,  and  be  ferry  that  tha 
Slight  liad  (hortencd  their  pleafure. 


The  Saints^  liver  las  tinq-  Rei>t.  ijat 


o 


secondly,  For  the  extraordinary  pertor malice,  tb.efe 
followiuf^-  are  rearoiiable  times. 

1,  When  God  dotb  extraordinarily  revive  thy  fpi- 
rit.  When  God  hath  enkindled  thy  fpirit  with  fue 
from  above,  it  is  that  it  may  mount  aloft  more  free- 
ly. It  is  a  choice  part  of  a  chriliian's  fkill,  to  obfervc 
the  temper  of  his  own  fpirit,  and  to  obferve  the  gules 
of  grace,  and  how  the  Spirit  of  ChriPi  doth  move  up- 
on his.  Without  Christ  we  can  do  nothing  :  therefore 
let  us  be  doing  Nvhen  he  is  doing  ;  and  be  fure  not  to 
be  cut  of  the  way,  nor  aflcep  \v  hen  he  comes.  A  lit- 
tle labour  will  let  thy  heart  a  going  at  fuch  a  time, 
when  another  time  thou  mayft  take  pains  to  little  pur- 
poie. 

2.  When  thou  art  caft  into  trouble  af  mind  through 
fufiferings,  or  fear,  or  care,  or  temptations,  then  it  is 
feafonable  to  addrefs  thyfelf  to  this  duty.  When 
fliould  we  take  our  cordials,  but  in  our  times  of  faint- 
ing ?  When  is  it  more  feafonable  to  walk  to  heaven*, 
than  when  we  know  not  on  what  corner  on  earth  to 
live  with  comfort?  Or  when  fliould  cur  thoughts  con- 
verfe  above,  but  when  they  have  nothing  but  grief  ta 
converfe  with  below  ? 

Another  fit  feafon  for  this  heavenly  duty^  is,  whew 
the  meffengers  of  God  fummon  us  to  die  ;  wjien  either 
our  gray  hairs,  or  o^r  languiflilng  bodies,  or  fome 
fwch  fore-runners  of  death,  tell  as  that  our  change  can- 
not be  far  off:  when  flvould  we  more  frequently  iweet- 
en  our  fouls  with  the  believing  thoughts  of  another 
life,  than  when  we  find  that  this  is  almoll  ended,  and 
•when  fleih  is  railing  fears  and  terrors?  Surely  no  men 
have  greater  need  of  fupporting  joys  than  dying  men  ; 
and  thofe  joys  muft  be  fetched  from  our  eternal  joy* 


o 

It  r.ow  f-:ious  ^.]^'A\.  T  fpcc-.k  a  v,  m-o  rf  tie  fittc  fl 
plscc,  TIu;i!-Ii  God  is  cvtiy  \^1  ercr  to  Ue  found,  yet 
foii.t  }:l.:ces  aie  ir.ore  coiivenltiU  ihun  others. 

1.  As  iliio  i..  w  |>riv?tc  ai.d  f];i.itua!  duty,  fo  it  is 
ir.oH  convenient  that  thou  retire  toibme  private  place  ; 
cur  fpirits  lia\f.  lucd  of  every  help,  and  to  be  freed 
fr(^m  every  liindeiance  in  the  work.  For  occafional 
BiCditrtlion  1  give  thee  not  this  advice  ;  but  for  fet  and 
fokuin  t'lUty  I  i:<l\ife,  tlnrt  thoi:  withdraw  thyfelf 
fvo:!i  «!!  frdety,  that  thou  nr^iyn  auhile  enjoy  the  fo-* 
cieiy  of  Chrifl. 

And  as  I  jidvife  thee  to  a  place  of  rctlrcdncfs  ;  fo 
alfo  t.!;at  thou  cl.'ferve  more  particuhwly,  v, hat  place 
or  pofiLire  beft  agreeth  with  thy  fpirit  ;  whether  with- 
in door,  or  without,  whether  fitting  ftill,  "or  walking". 
I  believe  Ifaac's  examph  in  this  alfo,  will  dirccl  us  to 
•the  place  p.nd  pofture  which  will  keft  fuit  w\t\\  mcft, 
as  it  doth  with  me,  iwV.  His  ivclking  f'irth  to  medi- 
tate in  the  fields  at  even  tide.  And  Chii{\'s  own  ex- 
ample gives  us  the  like  direclion.  Chrifl  was  uied  to 
a  folitiiry  garden  ;  and  though  he  took  his  difciples 
tliicher  with  him,  yet  did  he  feparate  himfelf  from 
them  for  more  fecret  devotions.* 

1  am  next  to  advife  thee  fome\<'hat  concernirg  tl.c 
prcpajiitions  of  thy  heart.  The  fuccefs  of  the  work 
doth  iviuch  depejid  on  the  frai^iC  of  thy  h-cart.  When 
n-an's  heart  hath  nothing  in  it  that  might  grieve  the 
Spirit,  tlien  was  it  the  delightful  habitation  of  his 
IVjaker.  -  God  did  not  quit  his  refjdcnce  there,  till 
man  did  repel  him  by  unvorthy  provocations.  Tlicre 
grew  no  ftrangenefs,  till  the  heart  grev;  fmful,  and 
too  loathfoHie  a  dungeon  for  God  to  delight  in.  And 
were  this  foul  rcftored  to  its  former  innocenry,  God 
would  quickly  return  to  his  former  habitation  :  yea, 
fo  far  as  it  is  renewed  and  repaired  by  the  Spirit,  the 


The  Saints^  Everlastinsr  Rest,  53 


o 


Lord  will  yet  :\cknow ledge  it  his  own,  and  Chrlft  aviU 
manifell:  hirnf':-!!' unto  it,  and  the  S|;irit  will  take  it  for 
its  temple  a»d  refidencc.  So  far  as  the  foul  is  qualified 
for  converGng  with  God,  To  far  it  doth  adlually  en- 
joy him.  Therefore  hsep  thj  heart  luith  all  diiigencs^' 
for  from  thence  are  the  issues  of  life. 

More  particularly,  when  thou  fetteft  on  this  duty, 
I.  Get  thy  heart  as  clear  from  the  woild  ns  thou 
canft  ;  wholly  layby  the  thoughts  of  thy  bufinefs,  of 
thy  troubles,  of  thy  enjoyments,  and  of  every  thing 
that  "may  take  up  »ny  room  in  thy  foul.  Get  thy 
foul  as  enjpry  as  pofiTibiy  thou  canfl,  that  fo  it  may 
be  the  more  capabU  of  being  -fiiled  with  God,  It  is 
a  work  that  will  require  all  the  powers  of  thy  foul,  if 
they  were  a  thoufand  times  more  «apacious  and  adlive 
than  they  are,  and  therefore  you  have  need  to  lay  by 
all  other  thoughts  and  affedions  while  you  are  buficd 
here. 

2.  Be  fure  thou  fet  upon  this  work  with  the  great- 
efl  ferioufnefs  that  poilibiy  thou  canlt.  Gullomarinefe 
here  is  a  killing  lin.  'i'here  is  no  trifling  in  holy 
things  ;  God  will  be  fantlified  of  all  that  draw  near 
him.  Thefe  fpiritual,  duties  are  the  moft  dangerous, 
if  we  mifcarry  in  taem,  of  ail.  The  more  they  ad- 
vance the  feu!,  being  well  uied,  the  more  they  deRroy 
it,  being  ufed  nK.faithful!y  ;  as  the  bsft  meats  corrupt- 
ed are  the  worfi. 

To  hcl,p  thee  therefore  to  be  ferious  when  thou  fet- 
teil:  on  this  w:rk  ;  First,  labour  tn  hjive  the  deepeft 
ai^prehenfions  of  the  prefence  of  God,  and  of  the  in- 
comprehenfible  greatnefs  of  the  majefty  which  thoci 
approjicheiL,  Think  witii  wiiat  reverence  thou  Ihouldd 
approach  thy  Maker  :  think  thou  art  addreiling  thy- 
fclf  to  iiim,  that  made  the  r^'orlUs  with  the  wi>yd  of 


3S4  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

his  mouth  ;  that  upholds  the  earth  as  in  the  palm  of 
his  hand ;  that  keeps  the  sun.  and  moo.i,  and  heaven 
in  their  courses  ;  that  bounds  the  ra^^lng  sea  ivith 
the  sands.,  and  saith^  Hitherto  gOf  and  no  further  : 
th®u  art  goinj;^  to  conveife  with  him,  before  whom  tl^e 
earth  will  quake,  and  devils  treir.bie  ;  before  wliofe 
bar  thou  liiufl  fhoitly  (land,  and  all  tb.e  world  with 
thee,  to  receive  their  doom,  O  think,  I  fliall  then 
have  lively  apprx^henfions  oF  his  iiiajelly  :  my  drowfy 
fpirits  will  then  be  awakened  :  why  Qiould  1  not  now 
be  roufed  with  the  fenfe  of  liis  greatnefs,  and  the 
dread  of  iiis  name  poITcfs  my  foul. 

Secondly,  Labour  to  apprehend  the  greatnefs  of  tlie 
work  wliich  thou  attempted,  and  to  be  deeply  fcnfiblc 
both  of  its  weight  and  height,  if  thou  wert  pleadii:^ 
for  thy  life  at  the  bar  of  a  judge,  thou  wouldft  be  fe- 
ricus  ;  and  yet  tliat  were  but  a  trifle  to  this  ;  if  tbou 
wert  engaged  in  fuch  a  work  as  David  was  againft 
Golish,  whereon  the  kingdom's  deliverance  depended, 
in  itfelf  confidered,  it  Avere  nothing  to  this,  SuppoPe 
tliou  wert  going  to  fuch  a  vrrefUing  as  Jacob's  ;  lup» 
pofe  thou  wert  going  to  fee  the  fi-;;,ht  which  t]>e  thre€ 
t;i{cii)les  faw  in  the  mount  ;  how  fcriouily,  how  rtve- 
jently  wouldft  tliou  both  approach  and  behold  1  If 
ibme  angel  from  heaven  fliouid  but  appoint  to  meet 
there,  at  the  time  and  place  of  thy  contemplation,  hov/ 
i^.pprchenfively  wculdii  thou  go  to  meet  liim  !  Wiiy, 
tonfidcr  then  with  what  a  fpuit  thou  Ihouklll;  meet  the 
Lord,  und  wiiji  vhat  lerioul'nefs  and  dread  th-u 
Ihouldft  daily  con.crfc  :>iLii  him. 

(A>n!id<;r  alfo  tlie  bh.fiecl  HXuc  of  the  work.  If  it 
fuccctU,  i"  v/jil  b-i  an  admiiiion  of  thee  into  the  pre- 
fcnce  cf  God,  a  b.ginr.'ijig  of  ihy  ettrnal  glory  on 
tartii  ;  n  n;  tns  to  n);tkc  thee  live  above  tlri  rate  of 
vincr  ))icn,  'ai)(\  adm'.t  tlite  into  the  next  rooni  to  ih« 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  335 

angels  themfelves  ;  a  means  to  make  thee  live  and  die 
both  joyfully  and  bleffedly  :  fo  that  the  prize  being 
lo  great,  thy  preparation  Ihould  be  anfwerablc-. 


CHAP.     VII. 

What  Affections  must  he  actedy  and  by  what 
Considerations  and  Objects,  and  in  what 
Order. 

TO  draw  the  heart  nearer  the  ^ork  ;  the  next 
thing  to  be  difcovered,  is,  What  powers  of  the 
foul  muft  here  be  adled,  what  affections  excited,  what 
confiderations  are  neceffary  thereto,  and  in  what  or- 
der we  muft  proceed. 

1.  You  mud:  go  to  the  memory,  which  is  the  ma- 
gazine or  treafury  of  the  underftandingi  thence  you 
muiL  take  forth  thofe  heavenly  doctrines  which  you 
intend  to  make  the  fui)jed  of  your  meditation.  For 
the  prefent  purpofe,  you  may  look  over  any  promile 
of  eternal  life  In  the  goipel  ;  any  defcription  of  the 
gloiy  of  the  faints,  of  the  refurre<ftlon  of  the  body, 
and  life  cverliiftin^  :  fome  one  fentence  concerning 
thofe  eternal  joys,  may  afiord  you  matter  for  many 
years  meditation  |^  yet  it  will  be  a  point  of  wii'ioni 
here,  to  have  ahvays  a  flock  of  matter  in  our  me- 
mory, that  fo  when  we  (hould  ufe  it,  we  may  bring 
forth  out  of  our  treafury  things  new  and  old.  If  we 
took  thing's  in  order,  and  obi'erved  fome  method  in 
refpedt  of  the  matter,  and  did  meditate  firfl  on-  one 
truth  concerning  eternity,  and  then  another,  it  woald 
not  be  amifs.  And  if  any  fliould  be  barren  of  matter 
through  weaknefs  of  memory,  they  may  have  notes 
01'  books  of  this  fubje^  for  their  furtherance. 


536  The  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest, 

r.  When  you  liave  fctcl.ed  from  yonr  memory  the 
matter  of  your  meditation,  your  next  work  is  to  pre- 
lentit.  to  your  judgment:  open  there  the  cafe  iis 
fully  as  thou  canft,  iVt  forth  the  feveral  ©maments  of 
the  crown,  the  feveral  di*'nities  belci.ging  to  the 
kingdom,  as  they  are  partly  laixl  open  in  the  begin- 
ning of  this  book  :  let  judgment  deliberately  view 
tliem  over,  ajMMlake  as  exaci  a  furvey  as  it  can  ;  the» 
put  the  qriCftich,  and  require  a  determination.  Is 
there  hapj^iiiefs  in  all  this,  or  not?  Is  not  here  enough 
to  make  u  c  blciTed  ?  Can  he  want  any  thing,  >vho 
fully  pclVcifeth  God?  Is  there  any  thing  higher  for 
a  creature  to  attain  ?  Thus  urge  thy  judgment  to  pa fs 
an  upright  fentence,  and  compel  it  to  fubfcrlbe  to  the 
pcrfe(^ion  of  thy  celcftial  happinefs,  ajid  to  leave  this 
fentence  us  under  its  hand  upon  record. 

Thus  excrcife  thy  judgment  in  the  contemplation 
of  thy  rcrt  ;  thus  magnify  and  advance  the  Lord  in 
thv  heart,  till  an  holy  admiration  hath  polTeffed  thy 
foul. 

3.  But  the  great  work,  which  you  may  cither  pre- 
niife,  or  fubjoin  to  this  as  you  pleafs,  is,  to  exercife 
thy  belief  of  the  truth  of  thy  reil ;  and  that  both  in 
reipedt  of  the  truth  of  the  promife,  and  alfo  the  truth 
of  thy  own  irtcrcfl  and  title.  As  unbelief  doth  caufe 
the  languifljing  of  all  our  graces  ;  j^  faith  would  do 
much  to  revive  and  a£luatc  them,  if  it  were  but  re- 
vived and  a(5luated  itfelf. 

If  we  did  foundly  believe  that  there  is  fuch  a  glo- 
ry, that  within  a  few  days  our  eyts  Ihall  behold  it;  O 
what  pafTions  would  it  raife  within  us  !  Were  we  tho- 
roughly perfuaded,  that  every  word  in  the  ftrlpture 
concerning  the  inconcei\  able  joys  of  the  kingdf  m,  and 
the  inexprefiible  bleflednefs  oi  the  life  to  come,  were 
the  very  word  of  the  living  God,   and  fhould  certain- 


T^<r  Sa'nits^  Everlasting  Rest,  337 

ly  be  performed  to  the  TmalleR  tittle,  O  what  aftonifli- 
ing  apprehenfions  of  tliat  life  would  it  breed  \  Ho>t 
would  it  a6luate  every  affedlion  !  How  would  it  tranf- 
port  us  with  joy,  upon  the  leaft  affurance  of  our  titlv;  ! 
If  I  were  as  verily  perfuaded,  that  I  fhall  fliorily  fee 
thofe  great  things  of  eternity,  promifed  in  the  word, 
as  I  am,  that  this  is  a  chair  that  I  fit  in,  or  that  this 
is  paper  that  I  write  ou  ;  would  it  not  put  another  fpi- 
rit  within  me  ?  Would  it  not  make  me  forget  and  def- 
pife  the  vrorld  ?  and  even  forget  to  fleep,  or  to  eat  ? 
and  fay,  as  Chrifl,  I  have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  knoiv  not 
of,  O  firs,  you  little  know  what  a  thorough  belief 
would  work. 

Therefore  let  this  be  a  chief  part  of  thy  bufmefs  in 
meditation.  Read  over  the  proiaifes  :  fludy  all  con- 
firming providences.  Call  forth  thine  own  experi- 
ences :  Remember  the  fcriptures  already  fulfilled  both 
to  the  church  and  faints  in  the  former  ages,  and  emi- 
nently to  both  in  this  prefent  age,  and  thofe  that  have 
been  fulfilled  particuUrly  to  thee. 

Set  before  your  faith,  the  frcenefs  and  the  univer- 
fality  of  the  promifes :  confider  God's  offer,  and  urge 
it  upon  all,  that  he  hath  excepted  from  the  conditi- 
onal covenant  no  man  in  the  world,  nor  will  exclude 
any  from  heaven,  who  will  accept  of  his  offer.  Stu- 
dy alfo  the  gracious  difpofition  of  Chrift,  and  his  rea- 
dinefs  to  welcome  all  that  will  come  :  fludy  all  the 
evidences  of  his  love,  which  appeared  in  his  fuffer- 
ings,  in  his  preaching  the  gofpel,  in  his  condefceH- 
fion  to  Tinners,  in  his  cafy  conditions,  in  his  exceed- 
ing patience,  and  in  his  urgent  invitations  t  do  not 
all  thefe  difcorer  his  readincfs  to  favc  ?  Did  he  ever 
manifcft  himfelf  unwilling  ?  Remember  alfo  his  faith- 
falncfs  to  perform  his  engagements.  Study  alfo  the 
evidences  of  his  love  in  thyfclf?  look  over  the  works 
of  his  grace  in  thy  foul :  if  thou  dofl  not  find  the 
F  f 


338  The  Saints*  Everlasting  Rest, 

degree  -which  thou  defirefl,  jet  deny  not  that  degree 
•which  thou  findeft.  Remember  what  dlfcoveries  of 
thy  f\ate  thou  haft  made  formcily  in  the  work  of  felf- 
examinatlon.  Remember  all  the  former  teflimonies 
of  the  Spirit ;  and  all  the  fweet  feelings  ol  the  fa- 
vour of  God  :  and  all  the  prayers  that  he  hath  heard 
and  granted  ;  and  all  the  prefcrvations  and  deliver- 
ances :  and  all  the  progrefs  of  his  Spirit,  in  his  work- 
ings on  thy  foul,  and  the  difpofals  of  IVovictence, 
conducing  to  thy  good  ;  and  vouchfafing  of  means, 
the  directing  of  thee  to  them,  the  direcfting  of  minifters 
to  meet  with  thy  ftate,  the  reftraint  of  thofe  lins  that 
thy  nature  was  moft  prone  to.  Lay  thefe  all  together 
and  then  think  with  thyfelf,  whether  all  thefe  do  not 
teftify  the  good  will  of  the  Lord  concerning  thy  fal- 
vation  I  And  whether  thou  mayft  not  conclude  with 
Sampfon's  mother,  when  her  hufband  thought  they 
fliould  furely  die.  "  If  the  Lord  were  pleafed  to  kill  us, 
he  would  not  have  received  an  offering  at  our  hands, 
neither  would  he  have  fliewed  us  all  thefe  things  ;  nor 
■would,  as  at  this  time,  have  told  us  fuch  things  as 
thefe,"  Judges  xiii.   22,  23. 

2.  When  the  meditation  hath  thus  proceeded  about 
the  truth  of  thy  happinefi,  the  next  part  of  tiie  work 
is  to  meditate  of  its  goodnefs  ;  that  when  the  judgment 
hath  determined,  and  faith  hath  apprehended,  it  may 
then  pafs  on  to  raife  the  affecSlions, 

1.  The  firft  affeclion  to  be  a<flcd,  is  love  ;  the  ob- 
\t€i  of  it  is  goodnefs:  here  then  is  th«  reviving 
part  of  thy  work  :  go  to  thy  memory,  thy  judgment, 
and  thy  faith  ;  and  from  them  produce  the  excellen- 
cies of  thy  reft  ;  take  out  a  copy  of  the  record  cf  the 
Spirit  in  fcripture,  and  another  of  the  fentence  re- 
giftered  in  thy  fpirit  whereby  the-  tranfcendent  glpry 
of  the  faints  is  declared  :  prefent  thefe  to  thy  affection 
of  love;  open   to   it  the    cabinet  that   contains  the 


The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest.  339' 

pearl  ;  flievv  it  the  promife,  and  that  which  it  affureth  ; 
thou  needed  not  look  on  heaven  through  a  multiply^. 
ing  glals  :  open  but  one  cafement,  that  love  may 
look  in  ;  give  it  but  a  glimpre  of  tlie  back  parts  of 
God,  and  thou  wilt  find  thyfelf  prefently  in  another 
world  :  do  but  fpeak  out,  and  love  can  hear;  do  but 
reveal  thefe  things  and  love  can  fee  ;  it  is  the  brutifli 
love  of  the  world  that  is  blind  ;  divine  love  is  ex- 
ceedingly quick-fighttd.  Let  thy  faith,  as  it  were, 
take  thy  heart  by  the  hand,  and  (liew  it  the  fumptu- 
ous  buildings  of  thy  eternal  habitation,  and  the  glo- 
rious ornaments  cf  thy  Father's  houfe  ;  fliew  it  thofe 
m:infions  which  Chrift  is  preparing,  nnd  difplay  be- 
fore it  the  honours  of  tl;c  kingdom  :  let  faith  lead 
thy  heart  into  the  prcfence  of  God,  and  draw  as 
near  as  polUbly  thou  canft,  and  fay  to  it,  Behold^  the 
Ancient  of  Days  ;  the  Lord  Jehovah^  v)hosc  name  is  I 
AM:  this  is  he  who  made  the  worlds  with  his  word  ; 
this  is  the  caufe  of  all  caufes,  the  fpring  of  aftion, 
the  fountain  of  life,  the  firft  principle  of  the  creatures' 
motions,  who  upholds  the  earth,  who  rulelh  tlie  na- 
tirins,  who  difpoffth  of  events,  and  fubdueth  his  foes  : 
who  governeth  the  depths  of  the  great  waters,  and 
boundeth  the  rage  of  her  fwelling  waves  ;  who  ruli-th 
the  winds,  and  moveth  the  orbs,  and  caufeth  the  fun. 
to  run  its  race,  and  the  feveral  planets  to  know  their 
courfes  ;  this  is  he  that  loved  thee  from  everlafting, 
that  formed  thee  in  the  womb,  and  gave  thee  this 
foul  ;  who  brought  thee  forth,  and  fhewed  thee  the 
light,  and  ranked  thee  with  the  chief  of  his  earthly 
creatures  ;  who  endued  thee  with  thy  underftanding, 
and  beautified  thee  \vith  his  gifts;  who  maintainetli 
tliee  with  life,  and  health,  and  coirjforts  ;  who  gave 
thee  thy  preferments,  and  dignified  thee  with  thy 
honours,  and  differenced  thee  from  the  mofl  miferable 
and  viieft  of  men.  Here,  O  here  is  an  obje£l  worthy 
thy  love  ;  here  thou  mayft  be  furc  thou  canfl:  not  love 
too  much  :  this  is  the  Lord  that    hath  bleffed   thee  • 


.540  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

with  his  benefits,  that  hath  fpread  thy  table  in  the 
i'jght  of  thy  enemies,  and  caufed  thy  cup  to  over- 
;flow.  This  is  he  that  angels  and  faints  praife,  and 
the  hoft  of  heaven  niuft  magnify  for'ever. 

Tbup  do  thou  e:xpatiate  in  the  praifes  of  God, 
and  open  his  excellencies  to  thine  own  heart,  till  thou 
feel  the  life  begin  to  ftir,  and  the  fire  in  thy  breaft 
begin  to  kindle  ;  as  gazing  upon  the  dufty  beauty  of 
flefli  doth  kindle  the  fire  of  carnal  love  ;  fo  this  gazing 
on  the  glory  and  goodnefs  of  the  Lord  will  kindle 
spiritual  love.  What  tjiough  thy  heait  be  rock  and 
flint,  this  often  ftriking  may  bring  forth  the  fire  J 
but  if  yet  thou  feeleft  not  thy  love  to  work,  lead  thy 
ieart  further,  and  fnew  it  yet  more  ;  fhew  it  the  Son 
of  the  living  God,  whofe  name  is  Wonderful  Coun» 
sellor^  the  mighty  Gody  the  everlasting  Father,  the 
Prince  of  Peace  :  fliew  it  the  King  of  faints  on  the 
throne  of  his  glory,  "  who  is,  and  was,  and  is  to  come  ; 
who  liveth  and  was  dead,  and  behold,  he  lives  for 
evermore,  who  hath  made  thy  peace  by  the  blood  of  his 
Crofs,  and  halh  prcj^rttcd  tnce,  v,;ih  Litr.fcilf,  aji  haUltcu. 
tion  of  peace  ;"  his  office  is  to  be  iht  great  peace-ma^ 
ker  :  his  kingdom  is  a  kingdom  of  peace  ;  his  gofpel  is 
the  tidings  of  peace  :  his  voice  to  thee  now  is  the 
^oice  of  peace  ;  draw  near  and  behold  him  ;  doft  thou 
not  hear  his  voice  ?  He  that  called  Thomas  to  come 
near  and  to  fee  the  print  of  the  nails,  and  to  put 
his  finger  into  his  wounds,  he  it  is  that  calls  to  thee, 
come  near  und  view  the  Lord  thy  Saviour,  and  be 
not  faithlefs,  but  believing  ;  Peace  be  unto  thee,  fear 
noty  it  is  I ;  he  that  calleth,  behold  me,  behold  me, 
to  a  rebellious  people  that  called  not  on  his  name, 
doth  call  out  to  thee  a  believer  to  behold  him  ;  he  that 
calls  to  them  who  pafs  by,  to  behold  his  forrow  on  the 
day  of  his  humiliation,  doth  call  now  to  thee  to  be^ 
hold  his  glory  in  the  day  of  his  exaltation  :  look  Avell 
upon  him  :  doft  tlioy   not    know  biJW  ?   Why,  it  is  \^ 


,'  E'verlastivg  Rest,  S41; 

that  brought  thee  up  from  the  pit  of  licll  ;  it  is  he 
that  reverfed  the  fentence  of  thy  cinnination  ;  that 
bore  the  curfc  which  thou  ihouldll  have  borne,  and 
reftored  thee  to  the  hkfTing-  that  thou  hadft  forfeited, 
and  purchafed  the  advancement  \vhich  thou  mufl  in- 
hv^rit  for  ever  ;  and  yet  dofl  thou  not  know  iiim  ? 
Why,  his  hands  were  pierced,  his  head  was  pierced, 
his  fides  were  pierced,  his  heart  was  pierced  with  the 
fling  of  thy  fins,  that  by  thefe  marks  thou  mayeft  al- 
ways know  him  :  dofi:  thou  not  remember  when  he 
found  thee  lying  in  thy  blood,  and  took  pity  on  thee, 
and  dreffed  thy  wounds,  and  brought  thee  home,  and 
faid  unto  thee,  live  ?  Haft  tliou  forgotten  fince  h« 
wounded  hlmfclf  to  cure  thy  wounds,  and  let  out  his 
own  blood  to  ftop  thy  bleeding  ?  Is  not  the  palTage  to 
his  heart  yet  ftanding  open?  If  thou  know  him  not 
by  the  face,  the  voice,  the  hands  ;  if  thou  know  him 
not  by  the  tears  and  bloody  fweat,  yet  look  nearer, 
thou  mayft  know  him  by  the  heart  ;  that  broken- 
healed  heart  is  his,  that  dead-revived  heart  is  his, 
that  pitying,  melting  heart  is  his  ;  doubtlefs  it  can 
be  none  but  his.  Love  and  compaffion  are  its  certain 
(ignatures  ;  this  is  he,  even  this  is  he,  wRo  would 
rather  die  than  thou  fhouldft  die,  who  chofe  thy  life 
before  his  own,  who  pleads,  his  blood  before  his  Fa- 
ther, and  mal:es  continual  intercefiiun  for  thee.  If  he 
had  not  fuffefed,  O!  what  hadft  thou  fuffered  ?  Wliat 
•hadft  thou  been  if  he  had  not  redeemed  thee  ?  Whi- 
ther' hadft  thou  gone,  if  he  had  not  recalled  thee  ? 
There  was  but  one  ftep- between  thee  and  hell,- when 
he  ftept  in  and  bore  the  ftroke  ;  he  flew  the  bear,- 
and  refcued  the  prey  ;  he  delivered  tliy  foul  from -the 
roaring  lion  ;-and  is  not  here  fuel  enough  for  love 
to  feed  on  i  Doth  not  this  loadftone  fuatch  thy  heart, 
and  almoft  draw  it  forth  from  thy  breaft  ?  Ganft  thou- 
read  the  hiftory  of  love  any  further  at  once  ?  'Doth 
not  thy  throbbing  heart  here-ttop  to  eale  itfelf;  and. 
doft  thou  not,  as  Jofeph,  feek  for  a  place  to  weep  in  I 
F  f  2 


$42  The  Saints^  Evertastin^  Rc9t. 

Or  do  not  the  tears  of  tliy  love,  bedew  thefc  lines?  Go 
then,  for  the  field  of  love  is  large,  it  will  yield  thee 
frefh  contents  for  ever,  and  be  thine  eternal  Avork  to 
behold  and  love  ;  thcru  needcft  not  then  >v ant  work  for 
thy  prefent  meditation. 

Hafl  thou  forgotten  the  time  when  thou  waft  weep- 
ing, and  he  wiped  the  tears  from  thine  eyes  ?  when 
thou  waft  bleeding,  and  he  wiped  the  blood  from  thy 
foul?  when  pricking  cares  and  fears  did  grieve  thee, 
and  he  did  refreflj  thee  and  draw  out  the  thorns  ?  Haft 
thou  forgotten  when  thy  folly  wounded  thy  foul,  and 
the  venomous  guilt  feizcd  upon  thy  heart  ?  when  he 
fucked  forth  the  mortal  poifon  from  thy  foul,  though 
therewith  he  drew  it  into  his  own. 

I  remember  it  is  written  of  good  Melanclhon,  that, 
when  his  child  was  removed  from  him,  it  pierced  his 
heart  to  remember,  how  he  once  fat  weeping,  with  the 
infant  on  his  knee,  and  how  lovingly  it  wiped  the  tears 
from  the  father's  eyes  :  how  then  fliould  it  pierce  thy 
heart  to  think  how  lovingly  Chrift  hath  wiped  away 
thine  !  O  how  oft  hath  he  found  thee  fitting  weeping, 
like  Hagar,  while  thou  gaveft  up  thy  ftate,  thy  friends, 
ihy  life,  yea,  thy  foul  for  loft  :  and  he  opened  to  thee 
a  well  of  coniblation,  and  opened  thine  eyes  alfo  that 
thou  mayft  fee  it  ?  How  oft  hath  he  found  thee  in  the 
pofture  of  Elias,  fitting  under  the  tree  forlorn  and  fo- 
litary,  and  deftring  rather  to  die  than  to  live  ;  ar.d  he 
hath  fpread  thee  a  table  from  heaven,  and  fent  thee 
away  refreftied,  and  encouraged?  How  oft  hath  he 
found  thee  as  the  fervant  of  Elias,  ciying  t)ut,  Alas  J 
ivhat  shall  ive  do,  an  host  doth  compass  the  city  ?  And 
be  hath  opened  thine  eyes  to  fee  more  for  thee  than 
againft  thee,  both  in  regard  of  the  enemies  of  thy  foul 
and  thy  body.  How  oft  hath  he  found  thee  in  fuch 
1  paffion  asJoBas,  in  thy  pecvifli  frenzy,  weary  of 
thy  life  j  and  he  jiath  not  aiifwered  paifioD  Vfith  pafli- 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  34  3 

on,  tliou;Th  he  might  have  done  well  to  be  angry,  but 
hath  mildly  realbned  thee  out  of  tkymadncfs,  andfaid, 
Dost  thou  well  to  be  angry^  or  to  repine  againft  me  ? 
How  oft  hath  he  fet  thee  on  watching  and  praying,  or 
repenting  and  believing,  and  when  he  hath  returned, 
hath  found  thee  faft  afleep  ?  and  yet  Jie  hath  not  taken 
thee  at  the  woift,  but  Inftead  of  an  angry  aggravation 
of  thy  fault,  he  hath  covered  it  over  with  the  mantle 
of  love,  and  prevented  thy  over-much  fovrow  with  a 
gentle  excufe.  The  spirit  is  willitig,  but  the  Jlcsh  is 
weak.  He  riiight  have  done  by  thee,  as  Epaminondas 
by  his  foldicr,  who  finding  him  afleep  upon  the  watch, 
run  him  through  with  his  fword,  and  faid,  "  Dead  I 
*'  found  thee,  and  dead  I  leave  thee  :"  but  he  rather 
chofe  to  awake  thee  more  gently,  that  his  tendtrnels- 
might  admonifh  thee,  and  keep  thee  watching.  How 
oft  hath  he  been  traduced  in  his  caufe,  or  name,  and 
thou  haft  like  Peter,  denied  him  (at  leaft  by  thy  filence) 
whilft  he  hath  Rood  in  fight  ?  Yet  all  the  revenge  he 
hath  taken,  hath  been  a  heart-melting  look,  and  a 
filent  remembering  thee  of  thy  fault  by  his  counte- 
nance. How  oft  hath  confcience  haled  thee  before 
him,  as  the  Pharifces  did  the  adulterous  woman  ;  and 
laid  moft  heinous  crimes  to  thy  charge  ?  And  when 
thou  haft  expelled  to  h4far  the  fertence  of  death,  he 
hath  fliamed  away  the  aceufers  :  and  put  them  to 
filence,  and  faid  to  thee.  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee  ; 
^0  tJiy  way,  and  sin  no  more. 

And  art  thou  not  yet  tranfported  with  love?  Cart 
thy  heart  be  cold  when  thou  thinkeft  of  this,  or  can 
it  hold  when  thou  reniembereft  thofe  boundlefs  com- 
paflions  ?  Rem.embereft  thou  not  the  time  when  he 
met  thee  in  thy  duties  ;  when  he  fmiled  upon  thee,  and 
fpake  comfortably  to  thee  ?  when  thou  didft  "  fit  un- 
der his  Ihadow  with  great  delight,  and  when  his  fruit 
was  fweet  to  thy  tafte  ?  when  he  brought  thee  to  his 
ban^ueting-houfe,  and  his  banner  over  thee  >vas  love  ? 


344  1  he  SdJjit.v"*  _Ev er last mg  Rent. 

when  his  left  hand  was  unJer  thy  head^  and  with  his 
rlgjit  hand  he  did  embrace  thee  ?"  And  dofl  thou  not 
yet  cry  out.,  Stay  we,  comfort  me^for  I  am  sxk  of  love? 
Thus  I  would  have  thee  deal  with  thy  heart  ;  thus 
hold  forth  the  goodncfs  of  Chrlflto  thy  afTedlions  ;  plead 
thus  the  cafe  with  thy  frozen  foul,  till  thou  fay  as  Da- 
vid in  another  cafe,   My  heart  ivas  hot  Vi^ithin  me. 

If  thefe  ar^^;innents  will  not  raufe  up  thy  love,  thou 
had  more  of  this  nature  at  hand  :  thou  haft  all  Chrifl's 
perfonal  excellencies  to  Rudy  :  tliou  hall  all  his  parti- 
cular mercies  to  thyfeif  ;  thou  haR  all  his  fweet  and 
near  relations  to  thee,  and  thou  haR  the  happinefs  of 
thy  perpetual  abode  with  him  hereafter.  All  thefe 
offer  themlelves  to  thy  meditation,  with  all  their  fe- 
veral  branches.  Only  follow  them  clofe  to  thy  heart, 
ply  the  work,  and  let  it  not  cool:  deal  with  thy 
heart,  as  Chrill  did  with  Peter,  when  he  a£k;ed  thrice 
over,  Lovest  thou  me?  till  he  was  grieved,  and  an- 
fwers.  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  1  love  thee.  So  fay  to 
thy  heart,  loveil  thou  the  Lord?  and  afk  it  the  fe- 
cond  time,  and  urge  it  the  third  time,  lovefl  thou 
the  Lord?  till  thou  grieve  it,  and  Ihame  it  out  of 
its  ftupidlty,  and  it  can  truly  fay,  thou  knowefl  that 
I  love  him. 

2.  The  next  affection  to  be  excited  is  defirc.  The 
objccl  of  it  is  goodnefs  not  yet  attained.  This  being 
fo  neceffary  an  attendant  of  love,  and  being  excited 
much  by  the  fame  confiderations,  I  fuppofe  you  need 
th.e  lefs  direction,  and  therefore  I  Ihall  touch  but 
briefly  on  this  j  if  love  be  hot,  dtfire  will  not  be 
cold. 

When  thou  hafl  tluis  viewed  the  goodnefs  of  the 
Lord,  and  conud^red  the  pleafures  that  are  at  his 
right-hand,  then  proceed  on  thy .  meditation,  thus  : 
think  with  thyfeif,  where  have  I  been  ?  what  have  I 


Tke  Saints^  Everlasting  Re^U         345 

feen  ?  O  the  incomprehenfible,  aflonifliing  glory  I  O 
the  rare  tranfcendent  beauty  !  O  blelTcd  louls  tliat 
now  enjoy  it  1  that  fee  a  thoufand  times  more  clearly, 
Tk'hat  I  have  feen  but  darkly  at  tbis  dlftance,  and 
fcarce  difcern  through  the  interpofing  clouds  !  What 
a  difference  is  tVre  betwixt  my  Aate  and  theirs  !  I 
am  fighing,  and  they  are  finglng  :  I  am  finning,  and 
they  are  pleafing  God  :  I  liave  an  ulcerated  foul,  like 
the  loathfome  bodies  of  Job  or  Lazarus,  but  they  arc 
perfedl  and  with.out  blemifli  :  I  am  here  entangled  in 
the  love  of  the  world,  when  tliey  aic  taken  up  with 
the  love  of  God  :  I  live  indeed  amongil  tlie  means  of 
grace,  and  I  poffcfs  the  feilowfblp  of  my  fellow-be- 
lievers ;  but  I  have  none  of  their  immediate  views  of 
God,  none  of  that  fellowship  that  they  poffefs  :  they 
have  none  of  my  cares  and  fears  ;  they  weep  not  in 
fecret  ;  they  languQi  not  in  forrows  ;  all  tears  arc 
wiped  away  from  their  eyes.  O  what  a  feafl  hath  my 
faith  beheld,  and  what  a  famine  is  yet  in  my  fpirit  1 
I  have  feen  a  glimpfe  of  the  court  of  God,  but  alas, 
I  ftand  but  as  a  bei'ij^ar  at  the  doors,  when  the  fouU 
of  my  companions  are  admitted  in,  O  blelTed  fouls  ! 
I  may  not,  1  dare  not  envy  your  happinefs  ;  I  rather 
rejoice  in  my  b.ethren's  profperlty,  and  am  glad  to 
think  of  the  day  when  I  fhall  be  adiiiitted  into  your 
fellow fhip.  But  O  that  1  were  fo  happy  as  to  be  in 
your  place  ;  not  to  dlfplace  you,  but  to  reft  there 
with  you.  Why  muft  I  ftay  and  groan,  and  weep, 
and  wait  ?  My  l.ord  is  gone,  he  hath  left  this  earth, 
and  is  entered  into  his  glory  :  my  brethren  are  gone, 
my  friends  are  there,  my  houfe,  my  hope,  my  all  is 
there  ;  and  muH  I  flay  behind  to  fojourn  here  ?  What 
precious  faints  have  left  this  earth  1  If  the  faints  were 
all  here,  if  (Uirift  Avere  here,  then  it  were  no  grief  for 
me  to  (lay  :  but  when  my  foul  is  fo  far  diftant  from  my 
God,  wonder  not  if  I  now  complain  ;  an  ignorant 
Micah  will  do  fo  for  his  idol,  and  fliall  not  my  fci\l 
^9  fo  for  God  ?  And  yet  if   I  had  no  hope  of  enjoy- 


346  /  he  Sunits^  Evcrliiming  Rest, 

in'T,  I  would  go  and  hide  myfelf  in  the  dcferts,  and 
ipcnd  my  days  in  frultlcfs  wiflics  :  but  feeing  it  is  the 
piomifed  land,  the  flate  I  mud  be  advanced  to  myfelf, 
and  my  foul  draw?  near,  and  it  is  ulmo(\  at  it,  I  will 
live  and  long;  I  will  lock  and  deftre  :  I  will  breathe 
out.  How  long,  Lord,  how  long  1  How  long,  Lord, 
holy  and  true,  wilt  thou  fufurr  this  foul  to  pant  and 
groan  I  and  wilt  not  open  and  let  him  in,  who  waits 
and  longs  to  be  with  thee  1 

'I'hus,  reader,  let  thy  thoughts  afpirs  :  thus  wlict 
thedcfircs  of  thy  foul  by  meditation  ;  till  thy  foul  long 
(as  David's  for  the  waters  of  Bethlehem)  and  fay,  "  O 
that  one  would  give  me  to  drink  of  the  wells  of  falva- 
tion  1'.'  and  till  thou  canfl  fay  as  he,  /  Iiave  longed  for 
tin  salvation^   0  Lord  / 

• 

Z.  The  next  afTxri^iion  to  be  acled,  is  hope.  This  is 
of  fingvilar  ufc  to  the  foul.  It  helpcth  exceedingly  to 
fuppoitii  in  futferings  ;  it  encourageth  it  to  adventure 
upon  the  greatcft  ditficuUies  ;  it  firmly  eftablidicth  it 
in  the  moll  fhaking  trials,  and  it  mightily  enlivcub  the 
foul  in  duties. 

Let  faith  then  (hew  thee,  the  truths  of  the  promife, 
and  judgujent  the  goodnefs  of  the  thing  promifed  ; 
and  what  then  is  wanting  for  the  raifing-  thy  hope  ? 
Shew  thy  foul  from  the  word  and  from  the  mercies, 
and  from  the  nature  of  God,  what  pofTibility,  yea, 
v.iiat  probability,  yea,  what  cert;/inty  thou  haft  of 
poiri:irw>g  cb.e  crown.  Think  thus,  and  reafcn  thus 
vvlih  thy  own  heart:  why  Ihould  1  not  comidently 
arid  comfortably  iiope,  when  my  foul  is  in  the  hands 
of  fo  compaffionatc  a  Su-.  iour,  and  when  the  kingdom 
ib  at  the  dilpol'al  of  lo  bounteous  a  God  ?  Did  he 
dv,t.r  liianifcrt  any  backwardnefs  to  my  good,  or  dif- 
cover'the  lead  inLlination  to  my  ruin  ?  Hath  lie  not 
i'iVorn  ;otlis  coiiiraiy    tonic  in  his  \.'cid,   thut  he  dc' 


772^  Saints'^  Everldsi'mg  Rest*  547 

lights  not  In  the  death  of  hlin  that  dlcth,  but  rather 
that  he  fnould  repent  and  live  1  Have  not  all-.-  his 
dealings  with  me  uitnelTcd  the  lame  ?  Did  he  not 
inind  me  of  my  danger,  when  I  never  feared  i:  ?  ^  nd 
>vhy  was  this,  if  he  would  not  have  me  to  cfcape  it  ? 
Did  he  not  mind  me  of  my  happinefs,  when  I  had 
no  thoughts  of  it  ?  And  why  was  this,  but  that  he 
would  have  me  to  enjoy  it  ?  I  have  been  afhamed  of 
iwy  hope  in  the  arm  of  fit  fli,  but  hope  in  the  pro- 
inife  of  God  maketh  not  afliamed  :  1  will  fay  there- 
fore in  my  gieatefl  fufTcrings,  "  The  Lord  is  my  por- 
tion, therefore  will  I  hope  in  him.  The  Lord  is  good 
to  them  that  wait  for  him,  to  the  foul  that  feeketh  him  ; 
it  is  good  that  I  both  hope,  and  quietly  wait  for  the 
falvation  of  the  Lord.  The  Lord  will  not  call  off  for 
ever  ;  but  though  he  caule  grief,  yet  will  he  have  com- 
pafTion  according  to  the  multitude  of  his  mercies," 
Though  I  languifli  and  die,  yet  will  I  liope  ;  for  he 
hath  faid,  The  righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death. 
Though  I  mufl  lie  down  in  dul  and  darknefs,  yet  there 
my  Jiesli  shall  rest  in  hope.  And  when  my  fl::{h  hath 
nothing  in  which  it  may  rejoice,  yet  will  I  keep  the 
rejoicing  of  hope  Jinn  to  the  encL 

4.  The  laft  afTed^ion  to  be  acSled,  is  joy.  This  is 
the  end  of  all  the  reft  ;  love,  defire,  liope,  tend  to 
the  raifing  of  our  joy.  And  is  it  nothing  to  have  a 
deed  of  gift  from  God  ?  Are  his  infallible  promifes 
no  ground  of  joy  ?  Is  it  nothing  to  live  in  daily  ex- 
pectation of  entering  into  the  kingdom  ?  Is  not  i«y 
affurance  of  being  glorified  one  day,  a  fufiicient 
ground  for  inexprefTible  joy  ?  Is  it  no  delight  to  the 
heir  of  a  kingdom,  to  think  of  what  he  muft  hereafter 
poffefs,  though  at  prefent  he  little  diff:;r  from  a  fer- 
vant  ?  Am  1  not  commanded  to  rejoice  in  hope  of  ihe 
Sr;Ory  of  God  ? 


348  The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest, 


Here  take  thy  heart  once  a^ain  as  it  were  by  the 
hand  ;  bring  it  to  the  top  of  the  hi^^heft  mount  ;  fhew 
it  xhc  kingdom  of  Christy  and  the  glory  of  it  ;  lay  to  it, 
'*  All  this  will  thy  Lord  bcftow  upon  thee,  who  haft 
believed  in  him,  and  been  a  worlhipper  of  him.  It  is 
the  Father's  good  pleafureto  give  thee  this  kingdom," 
Secft  thou  this  aftonilhing  glory  above  thee  ?  Why  all 
this  is  thy  own  inhcrit;ince.  lliis  crown  is  thine,  tliefc 
pleafures  are  thine,  bccaufe  thou  art  Chrilt's,  and 
Chrift  is  thine  ;  when  thou  wcrt  married  to  him,  thoa 
hadft  all  this  with    him. 

Thus  take  thy  heart  into  the  land  of  promife  ;  fliew 
it  the  pleafant  hills  and  fruitful  vallles  ;  (hew  it  the 
cluflers  of  grapes  which  thou  haft  gathered,  and  by  thofc 
convince  it  that  it  is  ablelTed  land,  flowing  with  better 
than  milk  and  honey  :  enter  the  gates  of  the  holy  city, 
walk  through  the  ftreets  of  the  New  Jerufalcm,  walk 
about  Sion,  go  round  about  her,  tell  the  towers  there- 
of, mark  well  her  bulwarks,  confider  her  palaces,  that 
thou  mayeft  tell  it  to  thy  foul  :  **  The  foundation  is 
garnifhed  with  precious  ftoncs  ;  the  twelve  gates  arc 
twelve  pearls  ;  the  ftreet  of  the  city  is  pure  gold,  as  it 
were  tranfparent  glafs  ;  there  is  no  temple  in  it,  for 
the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb  arc  the  temple 
of  it.  It  hath  no  need  of  fun  or  raoon  to  fliine  in  it, 
for  the  glory  of  God  doth  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb 
is  the  light  thereof,  and  th«  nations  of  them  which 
are  faved  (liall  walk  in  the  light  of  it."  This  is  thy 
reft,  O  my  foul,  and  this  muft  be  the  place  of  thy  e- 
vcrlafting  habitation  :  "  Let  all  the  fons  of  Sion 
then  rejoice,  and  the  daughters  of  Jerufalcm  be  glad  ; 
for  great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  is  he  prailed  in  the 
city  of  our  God  :  beautiful  for  lituation,  the  joy  of  the 
whole  earth  is  mount  Sion;  God  is  known  in  her 
palaces  for  a  refuge." 

Yet  proceed  :  the  foul  (faith  Auftin)  that  loves, 
afcend  frequently,  and   runs   familiarly  through  the 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Resi.  349 

flreetsofthe  heavenly  Jerufalem,  vifitin^  the  patriarchs 
and  prophets,  laluting  the  apoftles,  and  admiring  the 
armies  ot"  martyrs  and  confelTors.  So  do  thou  lead  ort 
thy  heart  as  I'romftreet  to  ftreet,  bringing  it  into  th« 
palace  o^  the  great  King  ;  lead  it,  as  it  were,  from 
chamber  to  chamber  ;  lay  to  it,  here  miift  I  lodge,  here 
miift  1  live,  here  muR  1  love,  and  be  loved.  1  mufl 
(horily  be  one  of  this  heavenly  choir,  I  flnll  then  be 
better  fkilled  in  the  mufic  ;  among  this  bleffed  com- 
pany muft  I  take  Hiy  place  ;  ray  tears  wiil  thea  be 
wiped  away  ;  there  it  is  that  trouble  and  lamentation 
ceafe,  and  the  voice  of  forrow  is  not  heard  ;  O  when 
I  look  upon  this  glorious  place,  -what  a  dungeon,  me- 
thinks,  is  earth  1  O  what  a  difference  betwixt  a  man 
feeble,  pained,  groaning,  dying,  rotting  in  the  grave, 
and  one  of  tliefe  triumphant,  bleffed,  Ihining  faints  t 
"  Here  Ihall  I  drink  then  of  the  river  of  pleafurc,  the 
ftreams  whereof  make  glad  the  city  of  God.  For  the 
Lord  v.'iU  create  a  new  earth,  and  the  former  fliall  not 
be  remembered  ;  we  fuali  be  glad,  and  rejoice  for  ever 
iH  that  which  he  creates  ;  for  he  will  create  Jerufalem, 
a  rejoicing,  and  her  people  a  joy  ;  and  he  will  rejoice 
in  Jerufalem,  and  joy  in  his  people,  and  the  voice  of 
weeping  ihall  be  no  more  heard  in  her,  nor  the  voiee 
of  crying  ;  there  Ihall  be  no  more  thence  an  infant  oi* 
days,  nor  au  old  man  that  hath  not  filled  his  days," 

Why  do  I  not  then  arife  from  the  dufl,  and  lajr 
afide  my  fad  complaints,  and  ceafe  my  mourning  ? 
Why  do  I  not  trample  down  vain  delights,  and  feed 
upon  the  forefeen  delights  of  glory  ?  Why  is  not  my 
life  a  contiual  joy  ;  and  the  favour  of  heaven  perpe- 
tually upon  my  Ipirit  ? 

I  do  not  place  any  flat  neccflity  in  thy  acling  all  the 
fore-mentioned  alledtions  in  this  order  at  one  time, 
or  in  one  duty  :  perhaps  thou  mayft  foinetime  feel 
foine  one  of  thy  affe^ious  more  flat  than  the  reft,  and 


350  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

fo  to  have  more  need  of  exciting:  or  thou  njayfl  find 
cne  ftirrlng  more  than  the  reft,  and  lb  think  it  more 
leafonable  to  help  it  forward  ;  or  if  thy  time  be  fliort, 
thou  mayft  work  upon  one  affcdlon  one  day,  and  up- 
on another  the  next,  as  thou  findeft  caufe  ;  all  this  I 
4eave  to  thy  own  prudence. 


CHAP.    viir. 

Some  Advantages  and  Helps^  for  raising  the 
Soul  by  Meditation, 

THE  next  part  of  this  directory,  is  to  flicw  you 
what  advantages  you  (liould  take,  and  what 
helps  you  fliould  ufe,  to  n^ake  your  meditations  of 
heaven  more  quickening,  and  to  make  you  tafte  the 
fweetnefs  that  is  therein.  For  this  is  the  main  work, 
that  you  may  not  ftick  in  a  bare  thinking,  but  may 
have  the  lively  fenfeofall  upon  your  hearts  :  and  this 
you  w  ill  find  to  be  the  moft  difficult  part  of  the  work. 
It  is  eafier  to  think  of  heaven  a  whole  day,  than  to  be 
lively  and  afFedlionate  in  thofe  thoughts  one  quarter  of 
an  hour.  Therefore  let  us  yet  a  little  furtlier  confider 
what  may  be  done,  to  make  your  thoughts  of  heaven 
piercing,  afFed\ing  thoughts. 

It  will  be  a  point  of  fpiritual  prudence,  and  fin- 
gular  help  to  the  furthering  of  faith,  'to  call  our 
fenfes  to  its  afhftance  :  if  we  can  make  us  friends  of 
thofe  ufuul  enemies,  and  make  them  inftruments  of 
railing  ws  to  God,  which  are  the  ufual  means  of 
drawing  us  fcm  God,  we  fliall  perform  a  very  ex- 
cellent work.  Sure  it  is  both  polTible  and  lawful  to 
do  ibmcthing  in  this  kind  ;  for  God  would  not  have 
^ivcn  us  either  fenfes  theinfelves,  or  their  ufual  ob- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  35 1 

jeds,  if  they  mi^ht  not  have  been  fervlceable  to  his 
own  praife,  and  helps  to  raife  us  to  the  apprehcnfion  of 
higher  things  :  and  it  is  very  confidcrable,  how  the 
Holy  Ghofi  doth  condtfccnd,  in  the  phrafe  of  fcrip- 
tiire,  in  bringing  things  down  to  the  reach  of  fenfe  ; 
how  he  fets  forth  the  excellencies  of  Ipiritual  things  in 
words  that  are  borrowed  from  the  objects  of  fenfe. 
Doubtlefs,  if  fuch  exprtfTions  had  not  been  bell:,  and 
to  us  necelTary,  the  Holy  Ghoft  would  not  have  fo  fre- 
quently ufed  them  :  he  that  will  fper.k  to  man's  under- 
ftandlu'^-,  muft  fpe?.k  in  man's  language,  and  fpeak 
that  which  he  is  capable  to  conceive. 

I.  Go  to  then  ;  when  thou  fcttcft  thyfrlf  to  medi- 
tate on  the  joys  above,  think  on  them  boKlly  as  fcrip- 
ture  hath  expreffed  them  :  brijig  down  thy  conceivings 
to  the  reach  of  fenfe.  Excellency,  without  farr/iliaii- 
ty,  doth  more  amaze  than  delight  us  j  but  love  and 
joy  are  promoted  by  funiiliar  acc^uaintance  :  when  we 
go  about  to  thirk  of  God  and  glory  without  thefe 
fpafkacles,  we  are  loft,  and  have  nothing  to  fix  our 
thoughts  upon  ;  we  fct  God  and  heaven  fo  far  from 
us,  that  our  thoughts  are  ftrange,  and  we  look  at 
them  as  things  beyond  our  reach,  and  are  ready  to 
fay,  that  which  is  above  is  nothing  to  us  t  to  conceive 
no  more  of  God  and  glory,  but  that  we  cannot  con- 
ceive them  ;  and  to  apprehend  no  more,  but  th'Jt  they 
are  pafl  apprehcnfion,  will  product  no  more  love  but 
this,  to  acknowledge  that  they  are  io  far  above  us 
that  we  cannot  love  them,  and  no  more  'yy  but  this, 
that  they  ar^  above  our  rejoicing.  And  therefore  put 
Chriit  no  further  from  you,  th:m  he  hath  put  llimfelf, 
left  the  divine  nature  be  again  inacceiribl?.  Think 
of  Cluift  as  in  our  own  nature  glorified  ;  think  of  our 
.  fellow-iuints  as  men  there  perft<flcd  ;  ihink  of  the  ci- 
ty and  ftate  as  the  Spirit  hath  expreffed  it,  only  with 
caution.  Supnoie  ihou  wscrt  now  behokiiug  this  city 
Qi  God,  and  that   thou  hadil  been  a  conipaii:ou  with 


352  The  Sitbits*  Everlasting  Resi. 

John  in  his  furvey  of  Its  glory,  and  hadO  fecn  the 
thrones,  the  majflty,  the  heavenly  hoOs,  th-^  fhining 
fplendor  which  he  luw  ;  draw  as  ftrong  fuppofitions 
as  may  be  from  tj-.y  fenfe  f(^r  the  helping  of  thy  af- 
fcclions  :  it  is  lawful  to  ftippofe  we  did  fee  for  the 
prefent,  that  which  God  hath  in  propbefies  revealed, 
and  which,  wc  mud  rcrJly  fee  in  more  unfpeakable 
brightnefs  before  long.  Suppofe  therefore  with  thy- 
liiithou  hadft  been  that  apoRle's  fellow-traveller  into 
the  celcflial  kingdom,  and  that  thou  hadf\  fecn  all  the 
faints  in  their  white  robes,  with  palms  in  their  hands: 
fuppofc  thou  hadfl  heard  thofe  fongs  of  Mofes,  and  of 
the  Lamb  ;  or  diift  even  now  hear  them  praifmg  and 
glorifying  the  living  God  :  if  thou  hadft  feen  thcfc 
things  indeed,  in  wha,t  a  rapture  wouldft  thou  have 
been  1  And  the  more  ferioully  thou  putted  this  fup- 
pofitlon  to  thyfelf,  the  more  will  the  maditatien  ele- 
vate thy  heart, 

I  would  not  have  thee,  as  the  Papift-5,  draw  thetft 
in  pidurcs,  nor  ufe  fuch  ways  to  reprefent  them. 
This,  as  it  is  a  courfe  fordidden  by  God,  fo  it 
would  but  feduce  and  draw  down  thy  heart  :  but  get 
the  liveliefl  pi(?ture  of  them  in  thy  mind  that  polTibly 
thou  cand  ;  meditate  on  them,  as  if  thou  wert  all  the 
■while  be  holding  them,  and  as  if  thou  wert  even  hear- 
ing t"  e  hallelujahs  ;  till  thou  cand  fay,  methinks  I 
fee  a  glimpfe  of  the  glory  I  Methinks  1  hear  the 
fliouts  of  joy  and  praif=  I  Methinks  I  even  dand  by 
Abraham  and  David,  Peter  and  Paul,  and  more  of 
thefc  triumphing  fouls  !  Methinks  I  fee  the  Son  of 
God  appearing  in  the  cloud*,  and  the  world  Handing 
tt  his  bar  to  receive  their  doom  1  Methinks  I  hear 
him  fay,  Comejc  blessed  of  my  Father  ;  and  fee  them 
go  rejoicing  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord  I  My  very  dreams 
of  thefe  things  have  deeply  affeaed  iwc  ;  and  (liould 
not  thefe  jud  fuppodtions  afTcdl  me  wiuch  more  ?  What 
if  I   had  ken   with  Paul  UioCe  unutterable    things  : 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest.  ZS^ 

fliould  T  not  have  been  exalted  (and  that  perh;ips  :bovc 
nieafure')  as  well  as  he  ?  What  if  I  had  flood  in  the 
room  of  Stephen,  and  feen  heaven  opened,  and  Chilli: 
fitting-  at  the  right  hand  of  God  ?  Surely  thnt  one 
fight  was  worth  the  fufTeving-  his  ftonn  of  ftones.  O 
that  I  might  but  fee  what  he  did  fee,  though  I  alfo  fuf- 
fered  what  he  did  fuffcr  I  What  if  I  had  feen  fuch  a 
fight  as  Michaiah  faw  ?  The  Lord  sitting  upon  hi.r 
throne^  and  all  the  hosts  of  Heaven  standing  on  his  right 
hand  and  on  his  left.  Why  thefe  men  of  Gcd  did  fte 
fuch  things  ;  and  I  fliall  fhortly  fee  far  more  than  ever 
they  faw,  till  they  were  loofed  from  the  fiefli,  as  I  mud 
be.  And  thus  you  fee  how  the  familiar  conceiving  of 
the  ftate  of  blelTednefa,  as  the  Spirit  hath  in  a  Gonde- 
fcending  language  exprefTed  it*  and  our  ftrong  fuppc- 
fitions  raifed  from  our  bodily  fenfes,  will  further  owr 
affcftions  in  this  heavenly  work. 

2.  There  is  yet  another  way  by  which  we  may 
make  oar  fcnfes  ferviceable  to  us,  and  that  is,  by  com- 
paring the  objefts  of  fcnfe  with  the  objc-cls  of  faith  ; 
and  fo  forcing  fenfc  to  aiFord  us  that  medium,  from 
whence  we  may  conclude  the  tranfcendent  worth  of 
glory,  by  arguing  from  fenfitive  delights  as  from  the 
iefs  to  the  greater.  And  here  for  your  further  affift- 
ance,  1  fliall  funiifli  you  with  fome  of  thefe  compara- 
tive  arguments. 

And  1.  You  muft  Itrongly  argue  with  ycur  hearts, 
from  the  corrupt  dMlights  of  fenfuii]  men.  Think  tht  n 
with  yourfelves,  when  you  would  be  fenfible  of  the 
joys  above  :  is  it  fuch  a  delight  to  a  urnier  to  do  wick- 
edly ?  And  will  it  not  be  d^liglitftd  indeed  to  live  with 
God  ?  Hath  a  drunkard  fuch  delif^ht  in  hit,  cups  and 
companions,  that  the  very  feais  of  damnation  will  not 
make  him  forfake  them  ?  Sure  then  there  are  high  de- 
lights with  God  !  If  the  way  to  hell  can  afford  fuch 
pleafure,  what  arc  the  pleafures  of  tlic  faints  in  heaven  ? 
G  s  2 


554  The  Saints^  Everlasting  J^esL 

2.  Compare  alfo  the  delights  above,  \vitli  the  law- 
ful delights  of  fcnle.  Think  with  thyfclf,  how  iweet: 
is  food  to  my  tafle  when  I  am  hungry  !  Efpecially,  as 
lia?x  faid,  t/iat  vjhich  my  S9ul  Uveth,  What  delight 
kath  the  tafte  in  foine  pleaf«nt  fruits,  in  fome  well  re- 
liflied  meats  !  O  what  delight  then  muft  my  foul  have 
in  feeding  ui)on  Chrift  the  living  bread  1  and  in  eat- 
ing with  him  at  his  table  in  his  kingdorj  I  How  plea- 
fant  is  drink  in  the  extremity  of  thirfk  !  Then  how 
delightful  will  it  be  to  my  foul  to  drink  of  that  foun- 
tain of  living  loater^  ivhich  whoso  drinks  shall  thirst 
no  more  ! 

3.  Compare  alfo  the  delights  above  with  the  de- 
lights that  are  found  in  natural  knowledge  ;  This  is 
far  beyond  the  delight:,  of  fenfe,  and  the  delights  of 
heaven  are  further  beyond  it.  Think  then,  can  an 
Archimedes  be  fo  taken  up  with  his  mathematical  in- 
vention, that  the  threats  of  death  cannot  take  him 
cff  ?  Should  I  not  much  more  be  taken  up  with  the  de- 
lights of  glory,  and  die  with  thefe  contemplations 
frefh  upon  my  foul  ;  efpecially  when  my  death  will 
perfe(Sl  my  delights  ?  But  thofe  of  Archimedes  die  with 
him*  What  a  pleafure  is  it  to  dive  into  the  fccrets  of' 
jiaturc  !  to  find  out  the  myfteries  of  arts  and  fciences  ! 
3f  we  make  but  any  new  difcovery  in  one  of  thefe, 
what  lingular  pleafure  do  we  find  therein  !  Think  then 
what  high  delights  there  are  in  the  knowledge  of  God 
and  Chrift  1  if  the  face  of  human  learning  befobieau- 
tiful,  that  fcnfual  pleafures  are  to  it  but  bale  and  bru- 
tifli  ;  how  beautiful  then  is  the  face  of  God  !  When 
•\vc  light  on  fome  choice  and  learned  book,  how  are  we 
taken  witi  it  !  we  could  read  and  lludy  it  day  and 
night ;  we  can  leave  meat,  and  drink,  and  flecp,  to 
read  it;  what  delights  then  are  there  at  God's  right 
faand,  where  we  (hall  know  in  a  moment  more  tbao 
aiiy  mortal  can  know  1 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  355 

4.  Compare  alfo  the  dclij^hts  above,  \¥ith  the  dp- 
lig-hts  of  morality,  and  of  tl.e  natural  affedlions* 
Wiiat  delight  had  many  foher  heather.s  in  the  prafticc 
of  moral  duties  ;  fo  that  they  took  him  only  for  an 
honell  man  who  did  well  through  the  love  of  virtue, 
and  not  only  for  fear  of  punifliment  ;  yea,  fo  highly 
did  they  value  virtue,  that  they  thought  the  chief 
happinefs  of  man  confifled  in  it.  Tliink  then  what 
excellency  there  \/ill  be  in  that  rare  prefecftion  which 
wc  fhall  be  raifed  to  in  heaven  ;  and  in  that  uncreat- 
ed perfcttion  of  God  v/hich  we  fliall  behold  !  What 
fweetnefs  is  there  in  the  exercife  of  natural  love  t 
■whether  to  children,  to  parents,  to  yoke-fellows  or  to 
frientis  !  The  dclig-ht  which  fpeciaU  faithful  friends 
find  in  Uving  and  enjoying"  one  another,  is  a  mofl 
plcafir.g,  fweet  delight  :  eveit  Chrift  himfelf,  as  it 
fcemeth,  had  fome  of  this  kind  of  love,  for  he  had 
one  difciple  whom  he  efpecially  loved.  Think  then, 
if  the  delights  of  cordial  friendfhip  be  fo  great,  what 
delights  fliall  we  have  io  the  friendUiip  of  the  Mofl 
High?  and  in  our  mutual  amity  with  Jefus  Chrifl  ? 
and  in  the  deareft  love  and  comfort  with  the  faints  ? 
Surely  this  will  be  a  clofer  and  ftrifter  friendfhip  than 
ever  was  betwixt  any  friends  on  earth  ;  and  thefe  will 
be  more  lovely  and  defirable  friends  than  any  that  ever 
the  fun  beheld  ;  and  both  our  affections  to  our  Father^ 
and  our  Saviour,  but  efpecially  his  affedlion  to  us, 
will  be  fuch  as  here  wc  never  knew  ;  as  fpirits  are  fo 
far  more  powerful  than  ilefh,  that  one  angel  can  de- 
ftroy  an  hofi,  fo  alfo  arc  their  aiftdions  more  ftrong 
and  powerful  ;  we  fliall  then  love  a  thoufand  times 
mere  ftrongly  and  fweetly  than  now  we  can  ;  and  as 
all  the  attributes  and  works  of  God  are  incomprehen- 
fible,  fo  is  the  attribute  and  work  of  love  :  he  will 
love  us  many  thoufand  times  more,  than  we  even  at 
the  perfedeft,  are  able  to  love  him  :  what  joy  tlw;ii 
■will  there  be  iu  this  mutual  love  I 


156  The  Salntii^  E-oeria.stin9-  Rest 


5.  Con^.pr.rc  alfa  the  exceUencles  of  l1ea^■en  with 
thofe  glorious  works  of  the  creation  which  our  evts 
now  btholcl.  Whnt  a  deal  of  wifdom,  and  power, 
and  goodnefs  appcareth  in  and  through  them  to  a  wife 
obfervtr  !  What  a  deal  of  the  majefty  (  f  the  great 
Creator  doth  fliine  in  the  face  of  this  fabric  of  the 
world  1  Surely  his  works  are  great  and  admirable, 
fought  out  of  them  tliat  have  pleafure  therein.  This 
makes  the  fludy  of  natural  phi'.ofophy  fo  pleafant,  bc- 
caufe  the  works  of  God  are  fo  excellent:  what  rare 
v/orkmanfiiip  is  in  the  body  of  a  man  I  yea,  in  the 
bo'.ly  of  eve:y  beaft  1  which  makes  the  anatomical  (lu- 
di,-'s  fo  delightful.  What  excellency  in  every  plant  we 
fee  !  in  the  beauty  of  flowers  !  in  the  nature,  diverfity 
and  ufe  of  herbs  1  in  fruits,  in  roots,  in  minerals,  and 
what  not  I  But  efp^cially,  if  we  we  look  to  the  greater 
work  ;  if  we  confidcr  the  whole  body  of  this  earth* 
and  its  creatures,  and  inhabitants  ;  the  ocean  of  wa- 
ters, with  its  motior.i  and  diuienfions,  the  variation 
of  the  feafons,  and  of  the  face  of  the  earth;  the  intcr- 
courfe  of  fpring  and  fall,  of  fummerand  winter  ;  what 
wonderful  excellency  do  thefe  contain  !  Why,  then 
think  if  thefe  things  which  are  but  fervants  to  finful 
man,  are  yet  fo  full  of  mvRcrious  worth  ;  what  is 
that  place  where  God  h.imfelf  doth  dv/ell,  prepared 
for  the  juft  who  are  perfeded  with  Chrid  I 

When  tliou  walked  forth  in  tl.e  evening,  lock  up- 
«n  the  ftars,  in  what  number  they  befpangle  the  fir- 
mament ;  if  in  the  day  time,  look  up  to  the  glorious 
fun  ;  view  the  wide  expanded  heavens,  and  fay  to 
thylelf,  what  glory  is  in  the  lekfl  of  yonder  ftars  I 
Wliat  a  vafl,  what  a  refplendent  body  hath  yonder 
moon,  and  every  planet  !  What  an  inconceivable 
glory  hath  the  fun  !  Why,  all  this  is  nothing  to  the 
glory  of  heaven.  Yonder  fun  mult  there  be  laid  at  de 
as  uielefs  ;  for  it  would  not  be  feen  for  the  brigtnefs 
oi  God.     I   fliall  live  above  all  yond-jr   glory  ;  yen- 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  357 

der  fun  is  but  darknefs  to  the  luflre  of  my  Father's 
houfc  ;   I  Ihall  be  as  glorious  as  that  fun  myfelf. 

So  think  of  the  reft  of  the  creatures.  This  whole 
earth  is  but  my  Father's  footftool  :  this  thunder  is 
nothing  to  his  dreadful  voice  ;  thefe  winds  are  no- 
thing to  the  breath  of  his  mouth  :  fo  much  wifdom 
and  pow«r  as  appear  in  thefe  ;  fo  much,  and  far  more 
grcatnefs,  and  goodnefs,  and  delight,  fliail  I  enjoy  ia 
the  aiTlual  fruition  of  God.  Surely,  if  the  rain  whicli 
rains,  and  the  fan  which  fliines  onthe  juft  and  unjuft, 
be  fo  wonderful  ;  the  fun  then  which  mull  fhine  on 
none  but  faints  and  angels,  niisft  needs  be  wonderful 
and  ravilhing  in  glory. 

6.  Compare  the  things  which  thou  fhalt  enjoy 
above,  with  the  excellency  of  thofe  admirable  works 
of  Providence,  which  God  doth  exercife  in  the  church, 
and  in  the  world.  What  glorious  things  hath  the 
Lord  wrought  !  And  yet  we  fliall  fee  more  glorious 
than  thefe.  Vv''ould  it  not  be  an  aftonilliing  fight,  ta 
fee  the  fea  ftand  as  a  wall  on  the  right  hand,  and  on 
the  left,  and  the  people  of  Ifrael  pafs  fafely  through, 
and  Pharoah  and  his  people  fwallowed  up?  If  we  had 
feen  the  rock  to  gufli  forth  ft  reams,  or  manna  or  quaiU 
rained  down  from  heaven,  or  the  earth  open  and 
fwaliow  up  the  wicked  ;  would  not  all  thefe  have  been 
wonderous,  glorious  fights  ?  B*it  we  fhall  fee  far 
greater  things  than  thefe.  And  as  our  fights  fliall  be 
more  wonderful,  fo  alfo  they  fliall  be  more  fweet:  there 
fhall  be  no  blood  or  wrath  intermingled  ;  we  fliall  not 
then  cry  out  as  Da'cid^  who  shall  stand  before  this  ho- 
ly Lord  God  ?  Would  it  not  have  been  an  aftonifliing 
fight  to  have  fecn  the  fun  ftand  ftlll  in  the  firmament  ? 
Wiiy,  we  fliall  fee  when  there  fliall  be  no  fun  to  fliine 
at  all  ;  we  fliall  behold  for  ever  a  fun  of  more  incom- 
parable brightnefs.  Were  it  not  a  brave  life,  if  we 
might  ftill  Jive  amon-j   wonders   and  miracles  \     ?^ftd 


358  The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest. 

all  for  us,  and  not  againft  us  ?  If  wt  could  have 
drought  or  rain  at  our  prayers,  as  Elias  ;  or  if  -we 
could  call  down  fire  from  heaven,  to  dtflroy  our  ene- 
mies ;  or  raifc  the  dead  to  life,  as  Elifha  ;  or  cure  the 
dif.;afed,  and  fpeak  flrange  languages,  as  the  apoftles ; 
alas,  thefe  are  nothing  to  the  wonders  which  we  (hall 
fee  and  polTt-fs  with  God,  and  all  thofe  wonders  of 
gondnefs  and  love  !  We  fnall  poffefs  that  pearl  and 
power  itfelf,  through  whofc  virtue  all  thefe  works  wer© 
done  :  we  lliall  ourfelvts  be  the  fubjc6ts  of  more  won- 
derful mercies  than  any  of  thefe.  Jonas  \ras  raifcd  but 
from  a  three  day's  burial,  from  the  belly  of  the  whale 
in  the  deep  ocean  ;  but  we  fliall  be  raifed  from  many 
years  rottcnnefs  and  duft,  and  that  dufl:,  exalted  to  a 
fun-like  glory,  and  that  glory  perpetuated  to  all  eter- 
nity. What  fayft  thou  ?  Is  not  this  the  greatefl:  of 
miracles  or  wonders  ?  Sure'y,  if  we  obferve  but  com- 
mon provklences,  the  motions  of  the  fun,  the  tides 
of  the  fea,  the  ftanding  of  the  earth,  the  warming  it, 
the  watering  it  with  rain  as  a  garden,  the  keeping  in 
order  a  wicked  confufed  world,  with  multitudes  of  the 
like  ;  they  are  all  very  admirable,  but  then  to  think 
of  the  Sion  of  God,  cf  the  vifion  of  the  divine  Ma- 
jelly,  of  the  comely  order  of  the  heavenly  hofl ;  what 
an  adrrJrable  fight  muft  that  needs  be  !  O  what  rare 
and  mighty  works  have  we  feen  !  what  clear  dilcove- 
ries  of  an  almighty  arm!  what  magnifying  of  wcak- 
nefs  I  what  calling  down  of  ftrength  ?  what  wonder.* 
wrought  by  moll:  improbable  means  !  what  turning  of 
tears  and  fears  into  f.ifciy  and  joy?  fueh  hearing  of 
car;iefi:  prayers,  as  if  God  could  have  denied  us  no- 
thing ?  All  thtfe  are  wonderful  works:  but  what 
are  thefe  to  our  full  deliverance  1  to  our  final  conqucll  ! 
to  our  eternal  triun.;"h  !  and  to  that  great  day  of  great 
things  ! 

7.  Compare  alfothe  mercies  which  thru  flialt  have 
abovcj  v/itli  thofc  oai titular  providences  '.vhigli  thoa 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest,  359 

hafl  enjoyed  thyfelf.  If  thou  be  a  clirlftlan  indeed, 
thou  haft,  if  not  in  thy  book,  yet  certainly  in  thy 
heart,  many  favours  upon  record  ;  the  very  remem- 
brance and  rehearfal  of  them  is  fweet ;  how  much  more 
fweet  was  the  adlual  enjoyment  1  But  all  thefe  are  no- 
thing- to  the  mercf.s  which  ;;re  aboye.  Look  over  the 
excellent  mercies  of  thy  youth,  the  mercies  of  thy  riper 
years,  the  mercies  of  thy  profperity  and  of  thy  adver- 
fity,  the  mercies  of  thy  feveral  places  and  relations  : 
are  they  not  excellent  and  innumerable  ?  Canft  not  thou 
think  on  the  feveral  places  thou  haft  lived  in,  and  re- 
member that  they  have  each  had  their  feveral  mercies  ? 
The  mercies  of  fuch  a  place,  and  fuch  a  place  ;'  and  all 
of  them  very  rich  and  engaging  mercies  ?  O  how  fwect 
was  it  to  thee,  when  God  reiolved  thy  laft  doubts  1 
when  he  overcame  and  filenced  thy  fears  and  unbelief! 
when  he  prevented  the  inconveniencies  of  thy  life, 
which  thy  own  counfel  would  have  eaft  thee  into  I 
when  he  eafed  thy  pains,  when  he  healed  thy  ficknefs, 
and  raifed  thee  up  as  from  the  very  grave  1  Were  not 
all  thefe  precious  mercies  ?  Alas,  thefe  are  but  fmall 
things  for  thee  in  the  eyes  of  God  ;  he  intendeth  thee 
far  greater  things  than  thefe,  even  fuch  as  thefe  are 
fcarce  a  tafte  of.  It  was  a  choice  mercy  that  God 
hath  fo  notably  anf-vered  thy  prayers,  and  tliat  thou 
haft  been  fo  oft  and  evidently  a  prevailer  with  him  : 
but  O  think,  are  all  thefe  fo  fweet  and  precious,  that 
my  life  would  have  been  a  perpetual  mifery  without 
them  I  Hath  his  providence  lifted  me  i'o  high  on  earth, 
and  his  merciful  kindnefs  made  me  great  ?  How  fweet 
then  will  the  glory  of  his  prefence  be  1  And  how  high 
will  his  eternal  love  exalt  me  1  And  how  great  Ihall' 
I  be  made  in  communion  with  his  greatnefs  I  If  my' 
pilgrimage  and  warfare  have  fuch  mercies  ;  what  (hall 
I  find  in  my  home,  and  in  my  triumph  I  If  I  have  had 
fo  much  in  this  ftrange  country,  at  fuch  a  dillance 
from  him  ;  what  ftiall  1  have  in  heaven,  in  his  imme- 
diate prefence. 


360  The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest. 

8.  Compare  the  joy  which  thou  flialt  have  in  hea. 
ven,  >vith  that  ^vhich  the  iaiiits  of  God  have  found 
in  the  way  to  it,  and  in  the  foretaftes  of  it:  when 
thou  fceft  a  heavenly  man  rejoice,  think  |what  it  is 
that  fo  afft(fls  him.  It  is  the  property  of  fools  to  re- 
joice in  toys  ;  bnt  the  people  of  God  are  wifer,  they 
Lnow  what  it  is  that  makes  them  glad.  When  did 
(}od  reveal  himfelf  to  any  of  his  faints,  but  the  joy 
of  their  hearts  was  anfwerable  to  the*  revelation  ? 
When  Mofes  had  been  talking  with  God  in  the 
mount,  it  made  his  vifage  fo  Ihining  and  glorious, 
that  the  people  could  not  endure  to  behold  it  ;  but  he 
was  fain  to  put  a  veil  upon  it  ;  no  wonder  then  if  the 
face  of  God  muft  be  veiled,  till  we  come  to  that  ftate 
where  we  fliall  be  capable  of  beholding  him,  when 
"  the  veil  fhall  be  taken  away,  and  we  all  beholding  him 
■with  open  face  fhall  be  changed  into  the  fame  image 
from  glory  to  glory."  Alas,  what  are  the  back  parts 
which  Mofes  faw  from  the  clefts  of  the  rock,  to  that 
open  face  which  we  fliall  behold  hereafter  !  What  is 
the  revelation  to  John  in  Patmos,  to  this  revelation 
which  we  Ihall  have  in  heaven  !  How  (hort  doth 
Paul's  vifion  come  of  the  faints'  vifion  above  with 
God  I  How  fmall  a  part  of  the  glory  which  we  muft 
fee,  was  that  which  fo  tranfported  Peter  in  the  mount ! 
I  confefs  thefe  were  all  extraordinary  foretaftes  ;  but 
little  to  the  full,  beatific  vifion.  When  David  fore- 
faw  the  refurredlion  of  Chrift  and  of  himfelf,  how 
did  it  make  him  break  forth  and  fay,  Therefore  my 
heart  nvas  glady  and  my  glory  rejoiceth,  myjlesh  also 
shall  rest  in  hope.  Think  then,  if  the  forcfightcan  raife 
fuch  ravifliing  joy,  what  will  the  adlual  poifeflion  do  ? 
How  oft  have  we  read  and  heard  of  the  dying  faints, 
who  when  they  had  fcarce  ftrength  and^life  to  exprefs 
them,  have  been  as  full  of  joy  as  their  hearts  could 
hold  ?  And  when  their  bodies  have  been  under  th« 
extremities  of  their  ficknefs,  yea,  ready  to  feel  the 
pangs  of  death,  have  yet  had  fo  much  of  heaven  in 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest.  561 

Uicir  {^Dirits,  that  the  joy  hath  far  furpaffed  their  for- 
rows  ?' And  if  a  fpark  of  this  fire  be  fo  glorious,  and 
that  in  the  midfl  of  the  fea  of  adverfitr  ;  what  then 
is  that  fun  of  glory  itfelf? 

9.  Cora  pare  alfo  the  glory  of  the  heavenly  king- 
dom, with  the  glory  of  the  church  on  earth,  and  of 
Chrill  in  his  Itate  of  humiliation  ;  and  you  may  eaiily 
conclude,  if  Chrift  ftanding  in  the  room  of  finners, 
was  fo  wonderful  in  excellencies,  what  is  Chrift  at 
the  Father's  right  hand  ?  And  if  the  church,  under 
her  fins  and  enemies,  hath  fo  much  beauty  ;  Ihe  will 
have  much  more  at  tl)e  marriage  of  the  Lamb.  How" 
wonderful  was  the  Son  of  God  in  the  form  of  a  fer- 
vant  !  when  he  is  born,  the  heavens  muft  proclaim 
him  by  miracles  ;  a  new  liar  Uiufl:  appear  in  the  firma- 
ment, and  fetch  men  from  remote  parts  of  the  world 
to  TTorlhip  him  in  a  manger  ;  the  angels  and  heaven- 
ly hofl  muft  declare  his-  nativity,  and  folemnize  it 
with  praifing  and  glorifying  God  :  when  he  fets 
upon  his  oflicc,  his  whole  life  is  a  wonder :  water 
turned  into  wiae,  thoufands  fed  with  five  loaves  and 
two  fiflies,  the  lepers  cleanfed,  the  fick  healed,  the 
lame  reftored,  the  blind  receive  their  fight,  the  dead 
railed  :  if  we  had  fcen  all  tkis,  fliould  we  not  have 
thought  it  Avonderful  ?  The  moft  defperate  difeafes 
cured  with  a  touch,  with  a  word  ;  the  blind  eyes  with 
a  little  clay  and  fpittle  ;  the  devils  departing  by  le- 
gions at  command  ;  the  winds  and  the  feas  obeying 
his  word  :  are  not  all  thefc  wondcrfal  ?  Thin!:  then, 
how  wonderful  is  his  celeftial  glory  ?  If  there  be  fucli 
cutting  down  of  boughs,  and  fpreading  of  gannt^nts, 
and  crying,  hofanna,  to  one  that  comes  into  Jerufa- 
lem  riding  on  an  afs  ;  what  will  there  bs  when  he 
comes  with  his  angels  in  his  glory  ?  If  they  that  hear 
him  preach  the  gofpel  of  the  kingdom,  have  their 
hearts  turned  within  them,  that  tiiey  turn  and  fay, 
Naver  man  spake  like  this  man  ;  then  fure  they  that 
H  h 


362  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest. 

behold  his  majefty  in  his  kingdom,  willfay,  Thereivas 
never  glory  like  this  glory.  If  when  his  enemies  come 
to  apprehend  him,  the  Avoid  of  his  mouth  doth  call 
them  all  to  the  ground  ;  if  \vhen  he  is  dyin^-,  the 
earth  muft  tremble,  the  veil  of  the  temple  rend,  the 
fun  in  the  firmament  hide  its  face,  and  the  dead  bo- 
dies of  the  faints  arife  :  O  what  a  day  will  it  be, 
when  he  will  once  more  fliake,  not  the  earth  only, 
but  the  heavens  alfo,  and  remove  the  things  that  are 
Ihaken  !  when  this  fun  fliall  be  taken  out  of  the  fir- 
mament, and  be  everlailingly  darkened  with  the 
brightnefs  of  his  glojy  !  when  the  dead  muft  al!  rife 
and  ftand  before  him  ;  and  all  shall  acknowledge  him 
to  be  the  Son  of  God,  and  every  tongue  confess  him  to  be 
Lord  and  King  !  If  when  he  rifcth  again,  the  grave 
and  death  have  loft  their  power,  and  the  angels  of  hea- 
ven muft  rL.ll  away  the  ftone,  and  aftonilli  the  watch- 
men till  they  are  as  dead  men,  and  fend  the  tidings  to 
bis  deje6led  difciples  ;  if  the  bolted  doors  cannot  keep 
him  out ;  if  the  fea  be  as  firm  ground  for  him  to  walk 
on  ;  if  he  can  afcend  to  heaven  in  the  fight  of  his 
difciples,  and  fend  the  angels  to  forbid  them  gazing 
after  him  :  O  what  power,  and  dominion,  and  glory 
then  is  he  now  pofl"cired  of  I  and  muft  we  ever  poffefs 
\vith  him  I 

Yet  think  further,  are  his  very  fervants  enabled  to 
do  fuch  mir'c<.cles  when  he  is  gone  from  them  ?  Can  a 
few  poor  fifhermen,  and  tent-makers,  cure  the  lame, 
and  blind  and  lick  ?  open  prifons,  deftroy  the  difo- 
bedient,  and  raife  the  dead  ?  O  then  what  a  world 
will  that  be,  where  every  one  can  do  greater  works 
than  thefe  !  It  were  much  to  have  the  devils  fubje£l 
to  us  :  but  more  to  have  our  names  written  in  the 
book  of  life.  If  the  very  preaching  of  the  gofpel  be 
accompanied  with  fuch  power,  that  it  will  pierce  the 
heart,  and  difcover  its  fecrets,  bring  down  the  proud, 
and  make  the  ftony  fmners  tremble,  if  it  can   make 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest.  363 

men  burn  their  books,  fell  their  lands,  bring  in  the 
price,  and  lay  it  down  at  the  preacher's  feet  ;  if  it 
can  make  the  fpirit  of  princes  Aoop,  and  the  kings 
of  the  earth  refign  their  crowns,  and  do  tkcir  homage 
to  Jcfus  Chrift  ;  if  it  can  fubdue  kingdoms,  and  con- 
vci  t  thoufands,  and  turn  the  world  thus  uplide  down  ; 
if  the  very  mention  of  the  judgment  and  life  to  come, 
can  make  the  judge  on  tht  bench  to  tremble  ;  what  then 
is  the  glory  of  the  kingdom  itfclf?  What  an  abfolutc 
dominion  have  Chrid:  and  his  fainls  !  And  if  they  have 
this  power  and  honor  in  the  day  of  their  abafement, 
what  will  they  have  in  their  full  advancement? 

10.  Cojnipare  the  mercies  thou  fnalt  have  above, 
with  the  mercies  which  Chich  huth  here  beflowed  on 
thy  foul  ;  and  the  glorious  change  which  thou  flialt 
have  at  laft,  with  the  gracious  change  which  th.e  Spi- 
rit has  wrought  on  thy  heart.  Compare  the  comforts 
of  thy  glorification,  with  the  comforts  of  thy  fantli- 
fication.  There  is  not  the  fmallefl  grace  in  thee  which 
is  genuine,  but  is  of  greater  worth  than  the  riches  of 
the  Indies  ;  nor  a  hearty  d/.-fire  and  groan  after  Chrift, 
but  is  more  to  be  valued  than  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world  ;  a  renewed  nature  is  the  very  image  of  God  ; 
fcripture  calleth  it,  **  Chrift  dwelling  in  us,  and  the 
Spirit  01  Gcd  dwelling  in  us  :"  it  is  a  beam  from  the 
face  of  G<,d  hinjfclf  ;  it  is  the  feed  of  God  remain- 
ing in  us  ;  it  is  the  only  inherent  beauty  of  the  ratio- 
nal foul  ;  it  enobleth  man  above  all  nobiHty  ;  it- 
fitteth  him  to  underlhuid  his  Maker's  plcalure,  to  do 
his  will,  and  to  receive  his  glory  :  think  then  with 
thyfeU,  it  this  grain  of  mustard-seed  be  fo  precious, 
what  is  the  tree  of  I  if s  in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of 
Cod?  If  a  fpark  of  life  be  fo  much,  how  glorious 
then  is  tke  fountain  and  end  of  this  life  !  If  we  are 
even  now  faid  to  be  like  God,  and  to  bear  his  image, 
and  tube  holy  as  lie  is  holy  ;  fure  we  fhall  then  be  m.uch 
liker  Gcd,  when    we  arc  perfectly  holy,  and  without 


564   ,         The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest. 

Meniifh.  Is  the  den  re  cf  heaven  fo  precious  a  thing  ! 
vhat  then  is  the  thing  itfelf  ?  Is  love  fo  exccllc-nt  ! 
what  then  is  the  beloved  ?  Is  our  joy  in  fore  feeing 
and  believing  fo  fweet  !  what  ^Till  be  the  joy  in  the 
fuil  polTeffion  ?  O  the  delight  that  a  chrifiian  hath  in 
the  hveiy  exercife  of  fome  of  thefe  r^ffefiions  !  What 
^•ood  doth  it  to  his  very  heart,  when  he  can  feelingly 
iay,  he  loves  his  Lord  !  Yea>  even  thcfe  troubling 
paffions  offorrowand  fear,  are  yet  ddi-htful,  when 
they  are  rightly  exevcifcd  :  how  glad  is"a  poor  chrif- 
tian  when  he  feeleth  his  heart  melt,  ahd  when  the 
thoughts  of  finful  unkrndnefs  will  dlfTolve  it  !  Even 
this  forrow  doth  yield  him  matter  of  joy  :  0  whr.^ 
-will  it  then  be,  when  we  fhall  do  nothing  but  know 
Gcd,  and  love,  and  rejoice,  and  praife,  and  all  this 
in  the  highefl  perfedion  1  What  a  comfort  is  it  to 
my  doubting  foul,  v/hen  I  have  a  little  affarance  of 
the  fmccrity  of  my  graces  1  How  much  more  will  it 
(Comfort  me,  to  find  that  the  Spirit  hath  fafcly  con- 
cluded me,  and  left  me  in  the  arms  of  Jcfus  !  What? 
9.  change  was  it  that  the  Spirit  made  upon  my  foul, 
when  he  firfl  turned  me  frvm  darkness  to  lights  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God  I  To  be  taken  from 
'that  horrid  Rate  of  nature,  wherein  myfclf  and  my 
actions  were  loathfome  to  God,  and  the  fentence  of 
death  was  pafttd  upon  me,  and  the  Almighty  took 
Bie  for  his  utter  enemy;  and  to  be  prefcntly  number- 
ed among  his  faints,  and  called  his  friend,  his  fer- 
vaat,  his  fon,  raid  the  fentence  revoked  which  was 
gone  forth  ;  O  what  a  change  was  this  !  To  be  taken 
from  that  Rate  wherein  1  was  born,  and  had  lived  fo 
many  years,  and  if  I  had  fo  died  I  bad  been  damned 
for  ever  ;  and  to  be  jufliiicd  from  all  thefe  crimes, 
and  freed  from  all  thefe  plagues,-  nnd  put  into  the  ti- 
tle of  an  heir  of  heaven,  O  what  an  aOouKhing  change 
\\-as  this  ?  How  much  greater  will  that  glorious 
chaiic-e  then  be  !  beyond  exprcfVlon  1  beyond  conceiv- 
ing- 1 'How    oft.    wlien  I  have  thought  of  this  change 


The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest.  S69 

ftlll  to  cut  It  fliort  ?  Doll  thou  not  frequently  find  a 
motion  to  have  done  ?  Art  thou  not  ready  to  be  up, 
as  ibon  ahnoft  as  thou  art  down  on  thy  knees  ?  So  it 
will  be  alfo  in  thy  contemplations  of  heaven  ;  as  faft 
as  thou  gettefl  up  thy  heart,  it  Avill  be  down  again  ; 
it  v.'ill  be  weary  of  the  work  ;  it  will  be  minding 
thee  of  other  bufinefs  to  be  done,  and  ftcp  t!iy  hea- 
venly walk,  before  thou  art  well  warm.  What  is  to 
be  done  in  this  cafe  alio  ?  Why  the  fa\Tie  authority 
and  rcfolution  which  brought  it  to  the  v.ork,  and 
obferved  it  in  the  work,  njull  hold  it  to  it,  till  the 
work  be  done.  Stick  to  the  -work  till  thy  graces  be 
a6led,  thy  affe^lions  railed,  and  thy  foul  refrvlhed 
with  the  delights  above  ;  or  if  thou  canll  not  obtain 
thefe  ends  at  once,  ply  it  the  clofer  the  next  time, 
and  let  it  not  go  till  thou  feel  the  blefllng.  Blessed 
is  that  servaiit,  tvhom  his  Lord,  nvhen  he  comes  shall 
Jindso  doiTig* 

Thus  I  have  directed  you  in  the  wcrk  of  heavenly 
eontemplation,  and  led  you  into  the  path  where  yow 
may  walk  7/ith  God.  But  b«caufe  1  would  bring  it 
down  to  the  capacity  of  the  meaneft,  and  help  their 
memories  who  are  apt  to  let  flip  the  former  particu- 
lars, 1  fiiall  here  contrail  the  whole,  and  lay  it  before 
you  in  a  narrower  compafs.  But  ftill  I  wifh  thee  to 
remember,  it  is  the  praftice  of  a  duty  that  I  am  di^ 
reeling  thee  in,  and  therefore  if  thou  wilt  not  prac-» 
tile  it  J  do  not  read  it. 

The  fum  is  this,  as  thou  makeft  confcicnce  of  pray- 
ing daily,  fo  do  thou  of  meditation  ;  and  more  efpe- 
cially  on  the  joys  of  heaven.  To  this  end,  let  apart 
one  hour  or  half  hour  every  day,  wherein  thou  mayft 
lay  afide  all  worldly  thoughts,  and  with  all  poirible 
iVrioufnefs  and  reverence,  as  if  thou  wert  to  fpeak; 
with  God  himfclf,  or  to  have  a  fight  of  Chrid,  or 
wfUiat  blelTed  place  }  io  withdraw  thylVlf  into  fomc 


370  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest, 

fccret  place,  and  fet  tliyfelf  wholly  to  the  following 
■work  :  if  thou  canft,  take  Ifaac's  time  and  place,  who 
xvent  forth  into  the  Jicid  in  the  evening  to  meditate: 
but  if  thou  be  a  fervant  or  poor  man  that  cannot  have 
that  leifure,  take  the  fittefl;  time  and  place  that  thou 
canfl,  though  it  be  vhen  thou  art  private  about  thy 
labours. 

■v\'!ien  thou  fettefl  to  the  v/ork,  look  up  toward, 
heaven,  let  thine  eye  iciid  thee  as  near  as  it  can  ;  re- 
member that  there  is  thine  cverlaRing  reft  ;  ftudy  its 
excellency,  ftudy  its  reality,  till  tliy  unucliet  be  fi- 
lenced,  and  thy  faith  prevail:  if  thy  judgment  be 
not  yet  drawn  to  admiration,  ufe  thofe  fenftble  helps 
and  advantages  which  were  even  now  laid  down. 
Compare  thy  heavenly  joys  with  the  choiceft  on  earth, 
and  io  raile  up  from  fenle  to  faith  ;  if  this  mere  con- 
fideration  prevail  not,  then  plead  the  cafe  with  thy 
heart  :  preach  upon  this  text  of  Jieaven  to  thyfelf  ; 
convince,  inform,  confute,  inftrucfl,  reprove,  examine, 
admoniPii,  encourage,  and  comfort  thy  own  foul  from 
this  celeftial  doctrine  ;  draw  forth  thofe  feve.al  con- 
fiderations  of  thy  reft,  on  which  thy  feveral  afFc(5lions 
may  work,  efpccially  that  affedion  or  grace  which 
thou  intendcll  to  a(Sl.  If  it  be  love  which  thou  wouldft 
aft,  ftiev,'  it  the  lovelinefs  of  heaven,  and  how  fuita- 
ble  it  is  to  thy  condition  :  if  it  be  defire,  conlider 
thy  abfence  from  this  lovely  objeft  :  if  it  be  hope, 
confider  the  pofiibility  and  probability  of  obtaining 
it:  if  it  bo  courage,  conlider  the  fmgular  afTiftancc 
and  encouragements  which'  thou  mayft  receive  from 
God,  the  \>i:aknci'»  of  tlie  enemy,  and  the  neceinty 
of  prevailing:  if  it  be  joy,-  confider  its  excellent,  ra- 
viihing  glory,  thy  iittercft  in  it,  and  its  certainty, 
and  the  ntarnefs  of  iV.c  time  when  thou  mayft  poirds 
it.  Urge  thefe  confiderations  home  to  thy  heart  ; 
whet  them  with  all  ])o{hble  ferioulhefs  upon  each  af- 
fedVicn  ;   if  thy  heart  dra-.v  back,  force  it  to  the  work  ; 


The  Saints''  Everlasting'  Rest,  371 


if  it  loiter,  Ipiir  it  on  ;  if  it  ftep  afide,  command  it 
in  again  ;  if  it  would  flip  aAvay,  and  leave  the  v/ork, 
ufe  thine  autliority:  keep  it  clofe  to  the  buirinefs,  till 
thou  haft  obtained  thine  end  ;  ftir  not  away,  if  it  may 
be,  till  thy  love  flame,  till  thy  joy  be  raifed,  or  till 
thydefire  or  other  graces  be  lively.  Call  in  afliftance 
alio  from  God,  mix  ejaculations  with  thy  foliloquies  ; 
till  having  ferioufly  pleaded  the  cafe  with  thy  heart, 
and  reverently  pleaded  the  cafe  with  God,  thou  had 
pleaded  thyfelf  from  a  clod  to  a  fliame,  from  a  for^jet- 
ful  fmner  to  a  mindful  lover:  from  a  lover  of  the 
•world,  to  a  thirfter  after  God  :  from  a  fearful  cow- 
ard, to  a  refolvcd  chriftian.  In  a  word,  what  will 
not  be  done  one  day,  do  it  the  next,  till  thou  haft 
pleaded  thy  heart  from  earth  to  heaven  :  from  con- 
vcrfing  below,  to  a  walking  with  God  ;  and  till  thou 
canft  lay  thy  heart  to  reft,  as  in  the  bofom  of  Glirift  ; 
in  this  meditation  of  thy  full  and  everlafting  reft. 


CHAP.     X. 


Jin  Exaynple  of  this  heavenly  Contemplation^  for 
the  Help  of  the  UnskifuL- 

REST  !  How  fweet  a  word  is  this  to  mine  cars  ! 
A^ethinks  the  found  doth  turn  to  fubf^ance,  and 
having  entered  at  the  ear,  defcendcd  down  to  my  ve- 
ry heart  ;  methinks  I  feel  it  ftir  and  work,  and  that 
throu'^h  all  my  parts  and  powers,  but  with  a  various 
work  upon  my  various  parts.  To  my  wearied  fcnies 
and  languid  fpirits,  it  feems  a  quieting,  pov.-eiful  opi- 
ate ;  to  my  dulled  powers,  it  is  fpirit  and  life  ;  to  my 
dark  eyes,  it  is  botli  eyc-falve,  and  a  profpecTtive  ;  to 
my  talle,  it  is  fweetnefs  ;  to  mine  ears,  it  is  melody; 
to  my  hands  and  feet,  it  is   ftrength  and  niinblenefs  : 


3/2  \       Tke  Saints^  Everlasting  Pest. 

methinks  I  feel  it  dlgefl:  as  it  proceeds,  and  increarc 
my  ii.itive  heat  and  moifturc,  and  laying  as  a  reviving 
cordial  at  my  heart,  from  thence  doth  fend  forth 
lively  fpirits,  which  beat  through  all  the  pulfes  of  my 
foul.  Reft  !  not  as  the  flone  that  refts  on  the  earth,  nor 
as  thefe  clods  of  flefh  (hall  reft  in  the  grave;  fo  our 
beafts  muft  reft  as  well  as  we  ;  nor  is  it  the  fatisfying 
of  our  fleilily  lufts,  nor  fuch  a  reft  as  the  carnal  world 
dtfireth  :  no,  no;  we  have  another  kind  of  reft  than 
thefe:  reft  we  Oiall  from  our  labours,  which  were  but 
the  way  and  means  to  reft  ;  but  yet  that  is  the  fmall- 
cftpart:  O  bleffed  reft,  where  we  ftiall  never  reft  day 
nor  night,  crying,  Holy-,  holy^  holy,  Lord  God  of  Sab' 
baolh  !  where  we  (hall  reft  from  fin,  but  not  from  wor- 
fhip  !  from  fufferings  and  forrow,  but  not  from  folace  I 

0  bleffed  day,  when  1  fliall  reft  with  God  I  when  I 
fhall  reft  in  the  arms  and  bofom  of  my    Lord  !     when 

1  Ihall  reft  in  knowing,  loving,  rejoicing,  and  praifing  I 
•when  my  perfeft  foul  and  body  together,  fliall  in  thefe 
perfeifl  aftings  perfedlly  enjoy  the  moft  perfedl  God  ! 
•when  God  alio,  who  is  love  itfelf,  fliall  peifeftly  love 
me  !  and  rejoice  over  me  with  joy  and  finging,  as  I 
Ihall  rejoice  in  him  I  How  near  is  that  moft  blelTed 
joyful  day  1  it  comes  apace  ;  even  he  that  comes  will 
come,  and  will  not  tarry  i  though  my  Lord  feem  to 
delay  his  coming,  yet  a  little  while  and  he  will  be 
here  :  what  arc  a  few  hundred  years  when  they  are  over? 
How  furely  will  his  fign  appear  !  and  how  fuddenly 
will  he  feize  upon  the  carelefs  world  I  Even  as  the 
lightning  that  fliines  from  eaft  to  weft  in  a  moment. 
He  who  is  gone  hence,  v/ill  even  fo  return  :  methinks 
I  hear  the  voice  of  his  foregoers  !  Methinks  I  fee  him 
in  the  clouds,  with  the  attend^ince  of  his  angels  in  ma- 
jefty  and  glory  !  O  poor  fecure  fniners,  what  will  you 
now  do  ?  where  will  you  hide  yourfelves  ?  or  what 
fliall  cover  you  •'  Mountains  are  gone,  the  earth  and 
heavens  that  were,  are  palTed  away,  the  devouring" 
iire  hath  con  fumed  all,  except  yourfelves,  who  muft 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  ReH,  S73' 

be  the  fuel  for  ever  :  O  that  you  couki  confume  as 
foon  as  the  earth,  and  melt  away  :;s  did  the  heavens  I 
Ah,  thefe  wiflies  are  now  but  vain  ;  the  Lamb  him- 
felf  would  have  been  your  friend,  he  would  have  loved 
you,  and  ruled  you,  and  now  have  faved  you  ;  but 
you  would  not  then,  and  now  it  is  too  late;  never 
cry,  Lord,  Lord  :  too  late,  too  late,  man  :  why  deft 
thou  look  about  ?  can  any  fave  thee  ?  Whither  doft 
thou  run  ?  can  any  hidvi  thee  ?  O  wretch,  that  hafl 
brought  thyfelf  to  tliis  1  Now  bhlTed  are  ye  that  have 
believed  and  obeyed  ;  this  is  the  end  of  your  faith  and 
patience  ;  this  is  that  for  which  ye  prayed  and  waited, 
do  you  now  repeat  your  fufterings  r.nd  forrows  ?  your 
felf-denying  and  holy  walking  ?  are  your  tears  of  re- 
pentance now  bitter  or  fvect  ?  O  fee  how  the  Judge 
doth  fmile  upon  you  !  there  is  love  in  his  looks  ;  the 
titles  of  redeemer;  huiband,  head,  are  written  in  his 
amiable  face  ;  hark  !  doth  he  not  call  you  ?  he  bids 
you  ftand  here  on  his  right  hand  ;  fear  not,  for  there 
he  fets  his  flieep  :  O  joyful  fenteuce  pronounced  by  his 
mouth  !  Ccm^.ye  blessed  of  nij;  Father^  iaJierit  the 
kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
ivorld  !  See  how  your  Saviour  takes  you  by  the  hand : 
the  door  is  open  ;  the  kingdom  is  his,  and  therefore 
yours  ;  there  is  your  place  before  his  throne  :  the  Fa- 
ther receiveth  you  as  the  fpoufe  of  his  Son,  he  bids  you 
welcome  to  the  crown  of  glory  ;  never  fo  unworthy, 
crowned  you  mull  be  :  this  was  the  project  of  uzq 
redeeming  grace,  the  purpofc  of  eternal  love.  O 
bleffed  grace  !  O  bkfled  love  1  O  the  frame  that  my 
foul  fliall  then  be  in  1  but  I  cannot  cxprcfs  it,  I  cannot 
conceive  it  1 

This  is  that  joy  which  was  procured  by  forrow  - 
this  is  that  crown  which  was  procured  by  the  crofs  j 
my  Lord  did  weep,  that  now  my  tears  might  be 
■wiped  away;  he  did  ble':^d,  that  I  might  now  rejoice  ; 
he  was  forlaken,  that  I  mighc  not  now  be  forfaken  i 
1  I 


5ri  The  SniiUa^  EverlasthiP-  Re^t, 

he  dltl  thmc^ie,  that  I  r.iio-ht  now  live.  This  wpca- 
ing,  wcunded  T.ord,  fliall  I  behold  ;  this  bleeding- 
Saviour  fticill  T  fee,  and  live  in  him  that  died  for  me. 
O  free  mercy  that  can  exalt  fo  vile  a  vretch  I  free  to 
mc,  though  dear  to  Chrift  !  here  mnft  I  live  v^ith  all 
thefe  faints  I  O. comfortable  meet'iig  of  my  eld  ac- 
quaintance, -with  whom  I  prayed,  and  v.ept,' and  fuf- 
fered  ;  with  whom  I  fpake  of  this  day  and  place  !  I 
fee  the  grave  could  not  contain  you,  the  fta  an<J  earth 
miift  give  up  their  dead  ;  the  fams  love  hath  redeemed 
and  faved  you  alfo ;  this  is  not  like  cur  cottages  of 
clay,  our  prifons,  cur  earthly  dwellings  :  this  voice  of 
joy  is  not  like  our  old  complainings,  our  groans,  our 
iighs,  our  impatient  moans  ;  nor  this  melodious  prSife 
like  our  fccrns  and  reviling,  lior  like  the  oaths  and 
curfes  which  we  heard  on  earth  :  this  body  is  not  like 
the  body  we  had,  nor  this  foul  like  the  foul  we  had, 
nor  this  life  like  the  life  that  then  we  lived  ;  we  have 
changed  our  place,  we  have  changed  our  flate,  our 
clothes,  our  thoughts,  cur  looks,  our  language  :  v/e 
have  changed  our  company,  for  the  greater  part,  and 
the  reft  of  our  company  is  changed  itfelf;  before  we 
■were  weak  and  defpifed,but  now  how  glorious  !  Where 
are  now  our  different  judgments,  cur  divided  fpirits  ? 
Now  we  are  all  of  one  judgment,  of  one  name,  of  one 
heart,  of  one  houfe,  and  of  one  gloiy.  O  fweet  re- 
concilement 1  O  happy  union  I  which  makes  us  firft 
to  be  one  with  Chrift,  and  then  one  with  ourfelves  ! 
Now  our  difference*  Ihall  be  daflied  in  our  teeth  no 
more,  nor  the  gofpel  reproached  through  our  folly. 
O  my  fowl,  tbou  (halt  no  more  lament  the  fufferings 
of  the  faints  ;  never  more  condole  the  church's  ruins  ; 
never  bev/ail  thy  fuffering  friends,  iTor  lie  w ailing- 
over  their  death  beds,  or  their  graves  ;  thou  fhalt  ne- 
ver fiiffer  thy  old  teniptations  from  Satan,  the  world, 
or  thy  own  flefh  ;  thy  body  will  no  more  be  fuch  a 
burden  to  thee  ;  thy  pains  and  ficknelTes  are  all  now 
cured  ;  thou  fhalt  be  trembled  with  weaknefs  and  wea- 


The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rc^t.  Z7S 

nueis  no  more  ;    ihy  kcaJ  is  iu>t  now  an  ntiing  head, 
xjoi    thy  heart  now  an  acLin^^  hcai  t  ;  thy  luinger  and 
thiit,    and   cold  and  (Iccp,    thy  labour  and  Rudy  arc 
all  guive.      O  what  a  mlgiity  cluiugc  is  this  1    trorn  the 
dunghill  to  thcthvcns  ;  from  a  body  as  vile  as  the  car- 
rion in  the  ditch,  to  a  body  as  bjighi  as  tkc  fun  ia  the 
firmament  1   from  all  my  doubts  and  fears,  to  this  pof- 
fcflion  which  hath  put  me  out  of  douiftt  1   from  all  my 
fearful  thoii^htsofdtrath,  to  this  moil  bk  fled  joyful  life  I 
O  what  a  change  is  this  1  farewell  (in  and  iuifering  for 
ever:  now  welcome  mod  holy,  heavenly  nature  ;  wluch 
as  it  muft  be  eniployed  in  beholdiiig  the  fac£  ot  God, 
fo  is  it  full  of  God   alone,  dtliglued  in   nothing  but 
him.      O  who  tan   queiVion  the  iore  which  he  doth  fo 
fwcetl.y  tafle  1   or  doubt  of  that  which  with  fuch  joy  he 
fctleth  I   Farewell  repentance,  coniefTion  and  fupplica- 
tioii  ;   farewell  hop^  and  faith  ;  and  welcome  love,  and 
joy,  and  praife.      1  fliall  now    have    my  harveft  with- 
out   plowing  or    fowing ;   my    wine    without    the    la- 
bour of  the  vintage  ;   my  joy  without  a  preaclicr  or  a 
promife,  even  all  from  the  face  pf  God  himftlf.   What- 
ever mixture  is  in   the    llrcams,  there  is  nothhig  but 
pure  joy  in    the  fountain.     Here  di-all  I  be  encirckci 
vvith  eternity,   and  come  forth  no   more:   here   Hi  all  I 
live,   and    ever  live  ;   and   praife  my    Lord,  and  ever, 
cv-er  praife    him.      My  face  will  not  wrinkle,  nor  rny 
hair  be  gray  ;  but  "  this  mortal  hathpnt  on  immori.Uity, 
aad  this  corruptible  incorruptisn,  and  death  is  fwallovv- 
ed    up  in  vi^lcry  :    O  death  1  where    is  thy  fting  ?    O 
grave  1   where  is  thy  victory  ?"  Tlie  date  of  my  leafe 
vill  no  more  expire,  nor  fiiall  I  lofe  my  joys  through 
fear  of  lofmg  them.   When  millions  of  ages  are  pait, 
my  glory  ipbut  beginning  ;  and  when  millions  more  are 
pafl  jt  la  no  nearer  ending.  Every  day  is  all  noontide,  and 
every  month  is  May  or  harveft,  and  every  year  is  there 
a  jubilee,  and  every  age  is  full  manhood  \  and  all  this 
but  one  eternity.   O  bleffed  eternity  I  the  glory  of  my 
glory  1  the  perfection  of  my  perfedioa  J 


3T6  TTie  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest. 

Ah  drowTy,  earthly,  blockifli  heart,  how  cooly  doft 
thou  think  of  this  reviving  day  1  Doft  ihcu  deep  when 
thou  t'hinkeft  of  eternal  reft  ?  art  thou  hanging  earth- 
ward, when  heaven  is  before  thee  ?  Hadft  thou  rather 
fit  thee  down  in  dung,  than  walk  in  the  court  of  the 
prefence  of  God  ?  Doft  thou  now  remember  th.y  worlds 
ly  bufinefs  ?  Art  thou  thinking  of  thy  delights  ? 
Wretched  heart  1  is  it  better  to  be  here,  than  above 
with  God  ?  is  the  company  better?  are  the  plcaiures 
greater  ?  come  away,  make  no  exciife,  make  no  delay  ; 
God  commands,  and  I  command  thee,  coxnt  av;ay  ; 
gird  up  thy  loins  ;  afcend  the  mount,  und  look  about 
thee  with  icnouincfs  and  with  faith.  Look  thou  not 
back  upon  the  way  of  the  wlkicrneis,  except  it  be 
when  thine  eyes  are  dazzled  with  the  glory,  or  when 
thou  wouIJft  compare  the  kingdom  with  that  howling 
defert,  that  thou  maytft  more  feulibly  perceive  the 
mighty  difference.  Fix  thine  eye  upon  the  fun  itfelfy 
and  look  not  down  to  earth  as  long  as  thou  art  able 
to  behold  it ;  except  it  be  to  difcern  more  eafily  the 
brightnefs  of  the  one  by  the  darknefs  of  the  other. 
Yonder  is  thy  Father's  glory  :  yonder  mulHhou  dwell 
vhen  thou  leaveft  this  earth  ;  yonder  muft  thou  re- 
move, O  my  ioulj  when  thou  departeft  from  this  bo- 
dy ;  and  when  the  pov/er  of  thy  Lord  hath  raifed  it 
again,  and  joined  thee  to  it,  yonder  muft  thou  live 
with  God  forever.  There  is  the  gloricus  new  Jeru* 
scileni^  the  gates  of  pearly  the  foundations  of  pearly  the 
streets  and  pavements  of  transparent  gold.  Sc;eft  thou 
that  fun  wh.ich  lighteth  all  the  world?  Why,  it  muft 
be  taken  down  as  ufelefs  there,  or  the  glory  of  hea- 
ven will  diirken  it,  and  put  it  out  ;  even  thyfelf  ftjall 
be  as  bright  as  yonder  fiiining  fun  ;  *^  God  will  be  the 
fun,  and  Cl.ril'i  the  li^ht,  and  in  his  light  ftialt  thou 
have  light." 

O  wretcled  ht'artl  hath  God  made  thee  a  promife 
wf  reft,  and  wilt  thou  come  (liOrt  of  it,  and  fhut  oi^« 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Rest,  35*7 

thy  Pelf  through  unbelief?  Thine  eyes  may  f.iil  tliee,' 
thy  ears  ueceive  thee,  and  iill  thy  fcnres  prove  deliifi- 
ons,  fooner  than  a  proniife  of  God  can  delude  tliec. 
Thou  mayfl  be  furer  of  that  which  is  written  in  the 
word,  tlian  if  thou  fee  it  with  thy  eyes,  or  feel  it  with 
thy  hands.  Art  thou  fure  thou  live  ft  ?  or  fure  that 
this  is  the  earth  which  thou  ftandeft  on  ?  Art  thou  fuie 
tliiiic  eyes  fee  the  fun  ?  As  fure  is  all  this  glory  to  tlie 
faints,  as  fure  (liall  1  be  higher  than  yonder  flars,  and 
live  for  ever  in  the  holy  city,  and  joyfally  found  forth 
the  praife  of  my  Redeemer,  if  I  be  not  Ihut  out  by 
the  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  causing  me  depart  from  the 
living  God, 

And  is  this  refl  fo  fweet,  and  ^o  fure  ?  O  then,  what 
means  the  carelefs  world  I  Do  they  know  >vhat  it  is 
they  fo  negle6l?  Did  they  ever  hear  of  it  ?  or  are  they 
yet  afleep  ?  Do  they  know  for  certain  that  the  crowu 
is  before  them,  while  thty  thus  fit  ftill,  or  follow  trifles, 
when  thy  are  hafting  fo  fad,  to  another  world,  and 
their  eternal  happincis  lies  at  ftake  ?  Were  there  lefc 
one  fpark  of  reafon,  they  would  never  fell  their  reJl 
for  toil,  their  glory  for  worldly  vanities.  Au,  poor 
men  !  that  you  would  once  coniider  what  you  hazard, 
and  then  you  would  ftorn  thefe  tempting  baits.  () 
bL-ffcd  for  ever  be  that  love,  that  liath  refcued  me 
from  this  mad  bewitching  darkneis  ! 

Draw  nearer  yet,  O  my  foul;  bung  forth  thy 
firoHgefl  love  ;  here  is  matter  for  it  to  work  upon  :  O 
fee  what  beauty  prefents  itfelf !  Is  it  not  exceeding- 
lovely  ?  Is  not  all  the  beauty  in  the  world  contrafted 
here  ?  Is  not  all  other  beauty  deformity  to  it  ?  Doft 
thou  need  to  be  perfuaded  now  to  love  ?  Here  i|  a 
feaft  for  thine  eyes  ;  a  feafl  for  all  the  powers  of  thy 
foul  ;  do!\  thou  need  to  be  entreated  to  feed  upon  it  i 
Canft  thou  love  a  little  ftiining  earth  ?  Canlt  thou 
Jove  a  >TaIking  piece  cf  clay  ?  And  canft  thou  noc 
I  \    2 


ST8  TheSaintfi^  Everkisting  Rest. 

love  that  God,  tliat  Ghrift,  that  glory,  which  is  ^o 
truly  and  uumeurma'uly  lovely  r  Thou  canll  love  thy 
frit-nu  becaufe  he  loves  thee  :  and  is  the  love  of  friends 
lik-c  the  love  of  Chrifl  ?  Their  weeping  or  bleeding 
for  thee  doth  n«t  eafe  thee  nor  ftay  the  courfe  of  thy 
tears  or  blood  :  but  the  tears  and  blood  that  fell  from 
thy  Lord,  have  all  a  fovereign,  healing  virtue,  and 
are  waters  of  life,  and  baUam  to  thy  fainting  fores. 
O  my  fcul  !  if  love  deft-rve,  and  fiioukl  procure  love, 
what  incomprehenfible  love  is  here  before  thee  1  Pour 
out  all  the  ftore  of  thy  aifcdtions  here  :  and  ail  is  too 
little.  O  tliat  it  were  more  •  Let  him  be  firft  ferved, 
that  ferved  thee  firft  :  let  him  have  the  flrength  of  thy 
love,  who  parted  with  ftrength  and  life  in  love  to 
thee  :  if  thou  have  any  to  fpare  when  he  hath  his  part, 
let  it  be  imparted  then  to  (landers  by.  See  what  a 
fea  of  love  is  here  before  thee  :  call  thyfelf  into  this 
ocean  of  his  love  :  fear  not  though  it  feem  a  furnace 
of  fire,  and  the  hottefl  that  was  ever  kindled  upon 
earth,  yet  it  is  the  fire  of  love  and  net  of  wrath  ;  a 
fire  nioft  effectual  to  e^tinguilh  fire  ;  never  intended 
to  confume,but  to  glorify  thee  :  venture  into  it  then 
in  thy  believing  meditations,  and  walk  in  thefe  flames 
with  the  Sen  of  God  :  Avhen  thou  art  once  in,  thou 
wilt  be  forry  to  come  forth  again.  O  my  foul  !  what 
•wantefl:  thou  here  to  proveke  thy  love  I  Doft  thou 
love  for  excellency  1  Why  thou  feed  nothing  below 
but  bafenefs,  except  ad  they  relate  to  thy  enjoyments 
above.  Yonder  is  the  Goflien,  the  region  of  light ; 
this  is  aland  of  palpable  darknefs.  Yonder  liars,  that 
flilning  muon,  the  radiant  fun,  are  all  but  as  the  lan- 
tiiorns  hanged  out  at  thy  Father's  houie  to  light  thee 
while  thou  walkeil  in  the  dark  flreets  of  the  earth  : 
btii  litiie  doft  thou  know  the  glory  that  is  within  1 
Doft  thou  love  for  fuitablenefs  .''  Why  what  perfon 
more  fuitable  thafl  Chrift  ?  his  godhead,  liis  aianhood, 
his  fuh;;:ls,  his  freenefs,  his  willingnels,  his  conftan- 
ty  J  do  all  prociaJiii  him   thy   inoft   fuitable   friend. 


The  Saints^  Everlasting  Re^t,  379 

What  Hate  more  fuitable  to  thy  mlfery,  than  that  of 
mercy  ?  Or  to  thy  (infulners  and  baieiiefs,  than  th'.it 
of  honor  and  perfc'c^ion  ?  V/h?.t  place  more  fuitable 
to  thee  than  heiiven  ?  Thou  hall  had  a  uifficlent  tii;.l 
of  this  v/orld  :  doR  thou  find  it  agree  with  thy  nature 
or  defires  ?  Are  thefe  common  abominations,  thefe 
heavy  fufFerlngs,  thefe  unfatisfying'  vanities,  fuitable 
to  thee  ?  Or  doll:  thou  love  for  intereft  and  near  rela- 
tion ?  Where  \vA\i  thou  better  intereil  than  in  heaven  ? 
or  where  hali  thou  nearer  relation  than  there  ?  Doft 
thou  love  for  acquaintance  and  familiarity  ?  Why 
though  thine  eyes  hvwe  never  feen  the  Lord,  yet  he 
is  never  the  further  from  thee.  If  thy  fon  were  blind, 
yet  he  would  love  thee  his  father  thouQ,h  he  never 
favr  thee.  Thou  haft  heard  the  voice  of  Chrifl:  to  thy 
very  heart,  thou  halt  received  his  benefits  :  thou  haft 
lived  in  his  bofom,  and  art  thou  not  yet  acquainted 
"with  him  ?  It  is  he  that  brought  thee  feafonably  and 
fafely  into  the  world  :  it  is  he  that  nurfed  th^ee  in 
thy  tender  infancy,  and  helped  thee  when  thou  couldft 
not  help  thylelf ;  he  taught  thee  to  go,  to  fpeak,.to 
read,  to  underiland  :  he  taught  thee  to  know  thyielf 
and  him  :  he  opened  thee  that  firfl  window  whereby 
thou  faweft  into  heaven  :  haft  thou  forgotten  fince 
thy  heart  was  car^lefs,  and  he  did  quicken  it,  and 
make  it  yield  ?  When  it  was  at  peace,  and  he  did 
trouble  it?  And  broken,  till  he  did  heal  it  again? 
Haft  thou  forgotten  the  time,  nay,  the  many  times 
■when  he  fouwd  thee  in  fecret,  all  in  tears;  when  he 
heard  thy  fighs  and  groans,  and  left  all  to  come  and 
comfort  thee  ?  When  he  came  in  upon  thee,  and  took 
thee  up  as  it  were  in  his  arms,  and  afked  thee,  poor 
foul  what  aileth  thee  ?  Doll  thou  weep,  when  I  have 
wept  fo  much  ?  He  of  good  cheer  :  thy  wounds  are 
faving  and  not  deadly.  It  is  I  that  have  made  them, 
"who  mean  thee  no  hurt  :  though  I  kt  out  thy  blooid^ 
I  will  not  let  out  thy  life. 


380  The  Saints^  Everlasting  Re^t. 

Mcthinks  I  rcmeiviber  yet  ])is  voice,  and  feel  thofe 
arms  that  took  me  up  :  how  gently  did  he  handle 
mc  !  How  carefully  did  he  drefs  my  wounds,  and 
bind  them  up  I  Methinks  I  hear  him  ftill  Aiyln^c,-, 
though  thou  hafl  dealt  unkindly  with  me,  yet  \\\\\ 
r.ot  1  do  fo  by  thee  ;  though  thou  haH  let  light  by 
ms  and  all  my  mercies  ;  yet  both  I  and  all  are  thine^; 
what  woiildft  thou  have,  that  I  cannot  give  thte  I 
and  what  doft  thou  v.ant,  that  I  cannot  give  thet  ?  If 
any  thing  in  heaven  and  earth  will  make  thee  happ)-, 
it  is  all  thine  own  :  wouldft  thou  have  pardon  ?  thou 
flialt  have  it,  I  freely  forgive  thee  all  the  d^ht  : 
uouldfl  thou  have  grace  and  peace  ?  thou  flialt  have 
them  both  :  w  ouldft  th(;u  have  inyfclf  ?  behold  I 
am  thine,  thy  friend,  thy  Lord,  thy  hufband,  and 
thy  head  :  wouldft  thou  have  the  Father  ?  1  will 
bring  thee  to  him  ;  and  thcu  flialt  have  him  in  and 
by  me — Thefe  were  my  Lord's  reviving  words  ; 
thefe  were  the  melting,  healing,  quickening  paffages 
of  love.  After  all  this,  when  I  was  doubtful  of  his 
love,  methinks  I  yet  remember  liis  convincing  ar- 
guments.— Kave  I  done  fo  much  to  teft  fy  my  love, 
and  yet  dofl  thou  doubt  ?  Have  I  made  thy  believing 
it  the  condition  of  enjoying  it,  and  yet  doll  thou 
■doubt  ?  Kave  I  offered  thee  myfelf  fo  long,  and  yet 
dioft  thcu  queftion  my  willingnefs  to  be  thine  ?  What 
cculd  I  have  done  more  than  I  have  done  ?  At  what 
dearer  rate  fliould  1  tell  thee  that  1  love  thee  ?  Read 
the  ftory  of  my  bitter  pallion,  wilt  thou  not  believe 
that  it  proceeded  from  love  ?  Did  I  ever  give  thee 
caufe  to  be  fo  jealous  of  me  ?  or  to  think  fo  hardly 
of  me,  as  thou  dofl  ?  Have  I  made  myfelf  in  the  gof- 
pel  a  lien  to  thine  enemies,  and  a  lamb  to  thee  ;  and 
doft  thou  fo  over-look  my  lamb-like  nature  ?  Have  I 
fet  mine  arms  and  heart  there  open  to  thte,  and  wilt 
thcu  net  believe  but  they  are  fljut  ?  If  I  had  been 
willing  to  let  thee  perifli,  I  could  have  done  it  at  a 
cheajjer  rate  :  what  need  I  follow  thee   with  fo  long 


7  li e  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest,  381 

patience,  and  entreating?  Wliat,  dod  thou  tell  me  of 
thy  wants  ;  have  I  not  enough  for  me  and  thee  ?  and 
Virhy  doft  thou  tell  me  of  thy  unworthinefs,  and  thy 
fin  ?  I  had  not  died,  if  man  had  not  finned  :  if  thou 
wert  not  a  finner,  thou  wert  not  for  me  ;  if  thou 
wert  worthy  thyfelf,  what  fliouidfl:  thou  do  with  my 
Avorthinefs  ?  Did  I  ever  invite  the  worthy  and  righ- 
teous ?  or  did  J  ever  fave  or  jullify  fuch  ?  or  is  there 
any  fuch  on  earth  f  Haft  thou  nothing?  art  thou  loft, 
and  miferable  ?  art  thou  helplefs  and  forlorn  ?  doft 
thou  believe  that  1  am  a  fufficient  Saviour  ?  and  wouldft 
thou  have  me  ?  why  then  take  me.  Lo,  I  am  thine  ; 
if  thou  be  willing,  I  am  willing-,  and  neither  fin  no 
devils  fliall  break  the  match. 

Thefe,  O  thefe  were  the  blclTed  words  Avhich  his 
Spirit  from  his  gofpel  fpoke  unto  me,  till  he  made 
me  caft  myfelf  at  his  feet,  yea,  into  his  arms,  and 
cry  out,  '•  My  Saviour  and  my  Lord,  thou  haft  broke 
my  heart,  thou  haft  revived  my  heart,  thou  haft  over- 
come, thou  haft  won  my  heart,  take  it,  it  is  th.ine  ! 
if  fuch  an  heart  can  pleal'e  thee,  take  it :  if  it  cannot, 
make  it  as  thou  wouldft  have  it." 

Thus,  O  my  foul,  mayft  thou  remember  the  fwect 
familiarity  thou  haft  had  with  Garift  ;  tlierefore  if 
acquaintance  will  caufe  affedion,  O  then  knit  thy 
heart  unto  him  ;  it  is  he  that  hath  ftood  by  thy  bed 
of  fickni'fs,  that  halh  cooled  thy  heats,  and  eaied  thy 
pains,  and  refrcflied  thy  'wearincf*,  and  removed  thy 
fears  ;  h^  hath  been  always  ready,  when  thou  haft 
earneftly  fought  him  ;  he  hath  given  thee,  the  meet^ 
ing  in  public  and  in  private  ;  he  hath  been  found  of 
thee  in  the  con^-regation  in  thy  houfe,  in  thy  cham- 
ber, in  the  field,  in  the  wav  as  thou  waft  walking, 
in  thy  v/aking  nights,  in  thy  deepeft  dangers.  If 
bounty  and  companion  be  an  attradVive  of  love,  how 
vinmeafurabiy  then  am  1  bownd  to  love  him  !  All  tho 


:S2  The  Sa:nts'  Evcrlaitinz  Rc:.t. 


o 


meicies  that  have  filled  up  my  life  tell  me  tliis^;  all  the 
places  that  ever  I  did  ab:dc  in,  cvojy  ccnditiun  cf  life. 
ti^at  I  have  palled  through,  all  my  tirj>loynitnts, 
and  all  my  relarlons,  evtry  chsnge  that  hath  befixlicn 
Ti^c,  all  teil  me,  that  the  fcuntain  is  overfiowin^  good- 

Lord,  what  a  fum  of  love  am  I  indebted  to  thce» 
and  how  doth  my  dtbt  coiitinuaily  Incrcafe  1  How 
fJiould  I  love  again  fci  fo  much  love  1  But  what  !  fliall 
1  dare  to  think  of  making  t]:ee  requital,  or  of  recom- 
penfing  all  thy  love  Vv'ith  mine  ?  Will  my  xuxiz  requite 
thee  for  thy  golden  miis^s  ?  or  mine,  which  is  nothing, 
cr  not  mine,  for  thine  v^hich  is  infinite  and  thine  own  ? 
Shall  I  dare  to  contend  in  love  with  thee  ?  or  fet  my 
burrowed  Ipark  again-fl  the  fun  of  love  ?  Can  I  love 
as  high,  as  deep,  as  broad,  as  long  as  love  itfelf ;  as 
much  as  he  that  made  me,  and  that  made  me  live,  that 
gave  me  all  that  little  which  I  have  ?  Both  the  heart, 
the  fire,  the  fuel,  and  all  were  his  :  as  I  cannot 
match  thee  in  the  works  of  thy  power,  nor  make,  nor 
preferve,  nor  guide  the  world  ;  fo  why  fhould  I  think 
any  more  of  matching  thee  in  love  ?  no.  Lord,  I 
yield,  I  am  overcome  ;  O  blcffed  cunquelt  1  go  on 
yiclorioufly,  and  flill  prevail,  and  triumph  in  thy  love  ; 
the  captive  of  love  flKiII  proclaim  thy  vidory,  when 
thou  leadeft  me  in  triumph  from  earth  to  heaven,  from 
4eath  to  life,  fiom  tiie  tribui^.al  to  the  throne,  myfelf, 
and  all  th.u  fee  it,  fnall  acknowledge  that  thv-u  haft 
prevailed,  and  all  Ihall  fay,  Behi,ld  huiu  ,'ie  loved 
him  1 — Yet  let  me  lovethte,  in  fubjcftion  to  thy  love 
as  thy  redeemed  captive^  though  1  cannot  reach  thy 
mc^afure. 

O,  my  foul,  begin  it  here  ;  be  fick  of  love  now, 
that  th<  u  mayft  be  w-jjl  with  love  the? re  ;  Ke^p  thyself 
noi'J  in  the  love  ofGjd^  and  let  neicher  lift  nor  deathj 
jauf  any  thing  fepurutc  thee  frgm  it^  and  U*ou  UiuU  be 


The  Saints'^  Everlasting  Rest,  383 

kept  in  the  fnlntrs  of  love  for  ev?r;  for  the  I>ord  hath 
prepared  a,  city  of  h)ve,  a  place  for  the  communicating 
of  lore  to  his  chofen,  and  thofe  that  love  his  name  fliall 
dwell  there. 

Away  then,  0  my  drowfy  foul,  from  this  world's 
uncorr.foi table  davknrfsl  The  night  of  thy  Ignbrance 
and  mifery  is  paft,the  day  of  glorious  light  is  at  hand: 
this  is  the  day-break  betwixt  them  both  :  though  ihcu 
fee  not  yet  the  fun  itfolf  appear,  methinks  the  twilight 
of  prcmife  fhculd  revive  thee  \  Come  forth  then,  ati'l 
leave  thefe  eartbly  cells,  and  hear  the  Lord  that  bids 
thee  rejoice,  and  again  reioicc  !  Th<m  hail  lain  here 
long  enough  in  thy  prifon  of  flcifli,  where  Satan  hath 
been  thy  gaoler,  where  cares  have  been  thy  irons;  and 
fears  thy  fcourge,  and  the  bread  and  water  of  affli6lion 
thy  food  :  where  forrows  have  been  thy  lodging,  and 
a  carnal,  hard,  unbelieving  heart  the  iron  gates  and 
bars  that  have  kept  thee  in,  that  thou  couldft  fcarce 
liave  leave  to  look  through  the  lattices,  and  fee  one 
glimpfc  of  the  immortal  light  :  the  angel  of  the  cove*, 
nant  now  calls  thee,  and  flrikes  thee,  and  bids  thee 
arife  and  follow  him  ;  up,  O  my  foul,  nnd  cheer- 
fully obey,  and  thy  bolts  and  bars  fliall  all  fly  open  ; 
do.  thcu  obeyj  and  all  will  obey  ;  follow  the  Lamb 
%vhich  way  foever  he  leads  thee:  art  thou  afraid,  be- 
caufe  thou  knoweft  not  whither  ?  Can  the  place  be 
worfe  than  where  thcu  art?  Shouldflthou  fear  to  fol- 
low fuch  a  guide  i  Can  the  fun  lead  thee  to  a  ftatc  of 
darknefs  ?  Or  can  he  miflead  thee  that  is  the  light  that 
lighteth  every  man  thatcometh  into  the  ivorld?  Will  he 
lead  thee  to  death,  who  died  to  fave  thee  from  it  ?  Or 
can  he  do  thee  any  hurt,  who  for  thy  fake  did  fufFcr 
fo  much  ?  Pollow  him  and  he  will  fliew  thee,  the  para- 
difeof  God,  he  will  give  thee  a  fight  of  the  neno  Jeru- 
salem,  he  will  give  thee  a  tafte  of  the  tree  of  life  :  thy 
winter  is  paft,   ar.d  wilt   thou    houfe  thyfelf  flill  in 


S 84.  The  Sain ts^  Everlasting  Res L 

earthly  thoughts  ;  and  confine  thyfelf  to  drooping  and 
dulnefs  ? 

Come  forth,- O  my  drooping  foul,  and  \\y  afide  thy 
winter  monrning  rftb^s  ;  let  it  be  fcen  in  tliy  believ- 
ing joys  and  praile,  that  the  day  is  iippe?oingvand  the 
ipring  is  corae  ;  and  as  new  thou  iecH:  thy  comforta 
green,  thou  (lialt  fiiortly  fee  them  white  and  ripe  for 
harveft  ;  and  then  th««,  who  art  now  called  forth  to 
fee  ^md  tafie.  fliill  be  called  forth  to  reap  and  gather, 
and  take  poffcflion.  Shall  I  fufpendand  delay  my  joys 
till  then?  Should  not  the  joys  of  the  fi3ring  go  before 
the  joys  of  harvefl  ?  Is  the  heir  in  no  better  a  ftat'3  than 
the  flave  ?  My  Lord  hath  taught  me  to  rejoice  in  the 
hope  of  his  glory,  and  to  fee  it  through  the  bars  of  a 
prifon,  and  even  when  I  Tkvn  persecuted  for  righteoiLS' 
ness-sakcy  when  I  am  reviled  and  all  manner  of  evil 
said  against  me  for  his  sake,  then  he  hath  commanded 
me  to  rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad  because  of  this  my 
great  reward  in  heaven.  Howjuftly  is  an  unbelieving 
heart  poffeffed  by  forrow,  and  made  a  prey  to  cares 
and  fears,  when  itfelfuoth  create  them,  and  thru fl  a- 
■way  its  ofF:;red  peace  and  joy  !  I  know  it  is  the  plea- 
fure  of  my  bounteous  Lord,  that  none  of  his  family 
ihould  want  comfort,  nor  live  fuch  a  poor  and  milcrable 
life,  nor  look  with  fuch  a  famifhed  dejefted  face.  I 
know  he  would  have  my  joj's  exceed  my  forrows  ;  and 
as  much  as  he  delights  in  the  humble  and  contrite,  yet 
doth  he  more  delight  in  the  foul  as  it  delighteth  in  hnn. 
Hath  my  Lord  fprtad  me  a  table  in  this  v.'ildtrnefs,  and 
furnifhed  it  with  proaiif^s  of  everlalUng  glory,  and  fet 
belbre  me  angtls'  food,  and  broached  for  me  the  fide 
of  his  beloved  Son,  that  I  might  have  a  better  wine 
than  the  blood  ofthcgrape  ?  Doth  he  fo  importunately 
invite  me  to  lit  down,  and  draw  forth  my  I'aitli,  and 
feed,  and  fpare  not  ?  Nay,  h^ith  he  furnilhcd  me  to 
that  end  with  reafon  and  faith,  and  a  rejoicing  dii'po- 
fition  ?  And  yet  is  it  poflible  that  he  fiiould  be  unwil- 


• 


The  SdinU^  E'Dcrlastino'  Rest,  385 

ling  I  fbauld  rcjuicc  ?  Never  thlnh  it,  'O  my  imbt- 
lieving  ibul  ;  nor  dr.re  cliaige  liiiu  with  thy  uncom- 
fortable heaviness,  who  ofTercth  thee  the  forttartcs  oF 
the  hi^hefl  delight  that  lieaven  can  aflbrd,  and  God 
can  beftow.  Djth  he  not  hid  thee  delight  thyself  in  the 
Lord?  an(lproniirc  togivethee  Mtf/c^/r^  of  thy  heart? 
Hath  he  not  charged  thcs  to  rejoice  evermore  ?  Yea^ 
to  sing  aloudy  -and  shout  for  joy  ? 

Away  you  cares  and  fears  !  away  you  iiriportiinatc 
forrows  1  ftay  here  below,  whilft  1  go  up  and  fee  my 
reft.  The  way  is  Grange  to  me  but  not  to  Chrift. 
Th're  was  the  eternal  dwelling  of  his  glorious  Deity  : 
and  thither  hath  he  alfo  brought  his  glorified  flcfli. 
It  was  his  work  to  purchafe  it  ;  it  is  his  work  to  pre- 
pare it,  and  to  prepare  me  for  it,  and  to  bring  me  to 
it.  The  eternal  God  oF  truth  hath  given  me  his  pro- 
mife,  his  feal,  and  his  oath  to  allure  me,  that  believing 
in  Christ  I  shall  not  perish^  but  have  everlasting  life  : 
thither  (hall  my  foul  be  fpeedily  removed,  and  my  bo- 
dy fliortly  follow.  And  can  my  tongue  fay,  that  I 
fliall  fliortly  and  furcly  live  with  God,  and  yet  my 
heart  not  leap  within  me?  Can  I  fay  it  believingly, 
and  not  rejoicingly  ?  Ah  faith  I  how  do  I  perceive  thy 
weaknefs  ?  ah  unbelief  I  if  I  had  never  known  it  be- 
fore, how  fenfibly  do  I  now  perceive  thy  malicious 
tyranny?  But  weie  it  not  for  thee,  what  abundance 
might  1  have  ?  The  I'.ght  of  heaven  would  fliine  into 
my  heart,  and  I  might  be  as  familiar  there  as  I  am 
on  earth. 

Come  away  my  foul  then,  {land  not  looking  ou 
that  grave,  nor  turning  thole  bones,  nor  reading  thy 
leffon  in  the  dull ;  thole  lines  will  foon  he  wiped  out  : 
but  lift  up  thy  head  and  look  to  heaTen,  and  read  thy 
inftruclions  in  thofe  fixed  ftars  :  or  yet  look  higher 
than  thofe  eyes  can  fee,  into  that  foundation  which 
ftandeth  fure,  and  fee  thy  name  written  in  the  book 
K  k 


586  The  SainU^  Everlasting  Rest, 

of  life.  What  if  an  angel  lliould  come  from  heaven 
and  tell  thee,  that  there  is  amanfion  prepared  for  thee  ; 
that  it  fhall  certainly  be  thine  own,  and  thou  flialt  pof- 
fefs  it  for  ever  ;  would  not  fuch  a  mefTage  make  thee 
glad?  and  doft  thou  make  light  of  the  infallible  word 
of  promifes  which  were  delivered  by  the  Spirit,  and 
by  the  Lord  himfelf  ? 

What  delights  have  I  found  in  my  private  fludies, 
efpecially  when  they  have  profpered  to  the  increafe  of 
knowledge  1  Methinks  I  could  bid  the  world  fare- 
•well,  and  immure  myfelf  among  my  books,  and  look 
forth,  no  more  (were  it  a  lawful  courfe)  but  fliut  the 
door  upon  me,  and  among  thole  divine  fouls  employ 
myfelf  in  fweet  content,  and  pity  the  rich  and  great 
ones  that  know  not  happinefs."  Sure  then  it  is  a  high 
delight  iudeed,  wliich  in  the  lap .  of  eternity  is  en- 
joyed ! 

If  the  queen  of  Sheba  come  from  ^Ethiopia  to  hear 
the  wlfdom  of  Solomon,  and  fee  his  glory  ;  O  how 
gladly  Ihculd  I  pafs  from  earth  to  heaven,  to  fee  the 
glory  of  that  eternal  majefly  ;  and  to  attain  myfelf 
that  height  of  Vvifdom,  in  compariion  of  which  the 
moR  Itarnc-d  on  earth  are  but  fools  and  idiots  1  If  the 
heaven  of  glai's  which  the  Perfian  emperor  framed, 
"were  fo  glorious  a  piece,  and  the  heaven  of  filver 
■\vhich  the  emperor  Ferdinand  fent  to  the  great  I'wrk, 
becaufe  of  theii  rare  artificial  reprefentations  and  mo- 
tions, what  will  the  heaven  oi  heavens  be,  v.-hich  is 
not  formed  by  the  art  of  man,  nor  beautified  like 
thcfe  childilh  toys,  but  it  is  the  matchlcfs  palace  of 
the  great  King,  built  by  himfelf  for  the  refidence  of 
his  glory,  and  the  perpetual  entertainment  of  his  be- 
loved faints  1 

I  cannot  here  enjoy  my  parents,  or  my  beloved 
friends  without  fome  delight  j  what  will  it  then  be  to 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rest,  387 

Vive  in  the  pcrp^.tual  love  of  God  !  For  brethren  here 
to  live  togf^ther  in  unity,  how  good  and  pleafant  a 
thing-  is  it  I  To  fee  a  family  live  in  love  ;  hr.fbands, 
•wives,  parents,  children,  fervants,  doing  all  in.  love 
to  one  another  !  O  then,  what  ablcfrc:d  fcciety  will  be 
the  funily  of  heaven,  and  thofe  p.aceable  inhabitants 
of  the  new  Jc^rufaleni  !  Where  is  no  divifion,  nordilaf- 
fedlion,  nor  ftrangeneTs,  nor  deceitful  friendlhip  ;  ne- 
ver an  angry  thought  or  look,  never  an  unkind  expref- 
fion,  but  all  one  in  Chrlfl,  who  is  one  with  the  Father, 
and  live  in  the  love  of  love  hinifelf. 

Awake  then,  O  my  drowfy  fonl,  aiid  look  above 
this  world  of  ibrrow  I  Haft  thou  borne  the  yoke  of 
afflictions  from  thy  youth,  and  lb  long  felt  the  fmart- 
ingrod,  and  yet  canil  no  better  underftand  its  mean- 
ing ?  Is  not  every  ftroke  to  drive  thee  hence  ?  and  is 
Hot  the  voice  like  that  to  Elijah,  rjhut  dost  thou  here  ? 
up  and  a-iu-ay,  Doft  thou  for^^et  that  fuie  prediction 
of  the  Lord,  In  the  nvorldye  shall  have  trouble^  but  in 
me  ye  shall  have  peace,  'l"he  fiift  thou  haQ  found  true 
by  long  experience  ;  and  of  the  latter  thou  hail  had  a 
fmall  foretafte  ;  but  the  perfe<5l  peace  is  yet  before, 
which  till   it  be  enjoyed  cannot  be  clearly  ui;^»^ilood. 

Ah,  my  Lord,  I  feel  thy  meaning;  it  is  written 
in  my  flcfh  ;  it  is  engraven  in  my  bones  :  my  heart 
thou  aimefi  at  :  thy  rod  doth  drive,  thy  filken  ccrd 
of  love  doth  draw  ;  and  all  to  bring  it  tothyi'.lf  :  c?.ti 
fnch  a  heart  be  worth  thy  having?  Make  it  fo-,  Lord, 
and  then  it  is  thine  :  take  it  to  thyfelf  and  then  take 
me.  I  can  but  reach  it  towards  thte,  and  net  unto 
thee  :  I  am  too  low  ;  and  it  is  too  di;]l  :  this  clcd 
hath  life  to  liir,  but  not  to  raife  :  as  the  feeble  child 
to  the  tender  mother,  it  looketh  up  to  thee,  and 
Hretcheth  out  the  hands,  and  fain  -would  have  thie 
take  it  up.  Lidecd,  Lord,  n«jy|  foul  is  in  a  Hrait, 
and  what  to  choofe  I  know  not,  bu^   ihou    knoweil 


288  The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest. 

uhat  to  give  :  to  depart  and  be  with  thee,  is  befl, 
but  yet  to  be  in  the  fleOi  Teems  needful.  Thou  know- 
f  ft  I  ann  not  v.cary  of  thy  work  ;  I  am  willing-  to  flay 
fvliilc  thou  wilt  here  eniplcy  me,  ?.nd  to  difpatch  the 
■work  which  thou  hafl  put  in  rry  hands;  but  1  be- 
fccch  thee  flay  no  .longer  when  this  is  done;  and 
■while  I  niufl  be  here,  let  me  be  flill  amending  and 
afcending  ;  make  me  ftill  better,  and  take  me  at  the 
bcft.  I  dare  not  be  fo  impatient  of  living,  as  to  im- 
portune thee  to  cut  ofi'  my  time,  and  ur^e  thee  t9 
fnatch  me  hence  :  nor  yet  would  I  flay  when  my 
woikisdone;  and  remain  under  thy  feet,  while  they 
are  in  thy  bofom  :  I  am.  thy  child  as  well  as  they  ; 
Chrifi  is  my  head  as  well  as  the^irs  ;  why  is  there  then 
fo  great  a  diftance  ?  I  acknowledge  tl^e  ec.uity  of  thy 
ways  ;  thoegh  we  are  all  children,  yet  1  am  the  pro- 
digal, and  therefore  meetea-  in  this  remote  country  to 
feed  on  hufks,  while  they  arc  always  -with  thee,  and 
poflefs  thy  glory  :  bat  they  were  once  in  my  condi- 
tion, and  I  fhall  fUortly  be  in  theirs  :  they  were  of 
the  Joweft  form,  before  they  came  to  the  higbefl  ; 
they  fuifered  before  they  reigned  ;  they  carae  out.  of 
gFeat  tribulation,  v.'ho  now  are  Handing  before  thy 
throne  :  and  Oiall  not  I  be  content  to  come  to  the 
crown  as  they  did  r  and  to  drink  of  tlieij-  cupbcfcie 
I  ut  with  them  in  the  kingdom  ?  1  an)  contented,  O 
my  Lord,  to  fiay  thy  time,  and  go  thy  way,  fo  thou 
\vilte?nlt  me  alfo  in  thyfeafou,  and  take  me  into  thy 
barn  when  then  feed  me  ripe.  In  the  mean- time  I 
may  defire,  tliough  I  am  not  to  repine  ;  1  may  be- 
lieve and  wiih,  though  not  n]al;e  fLil'iil  halle  ;  1  am 
rontei;t  to  wait,  but  not  to  lofr  thee  :  and  >\hen  thou 
feed  me  too  contented  with  thine  aofence,  quicken 
then  my  dull  deli  res,  and  blow  up  the  dying  fpark  of 
love  :  and  leave  me  wot  till  1  am  able  unl'cignedly  to 
cry  cut,  "  As  the  har:  pantcth  after  the  brooks,  and 
the  dryland  thirdeth  for  water-flrcams,  fo  thirlkth  my 
foul  after  thee,  0  Gcd  :  when  fiiall  I  come  and  appeiu" 


The  Sahits^  Everlasting  Rest,  389 

before  the  living  God  ?"  Whut  intereft  hath  this  eirpty 
world  in  me  ?  and  what  is  there  in  it  that  may  feem  io 
lovely,  as  to  entice  my  defires  and  delight  from  thee, 
or  to  make  me  loth  to  come  away  ?  Draw  forth  my 
foul  to  thyfclf  by  the  fecret  power  of  thy  love,  as  the 
fuii-fhine  in  the  fpring  draws  forth  the  creatures  from 
their  winter-cells  ;  meet  it  half  way,  and  entice  it 
to  thee,  as  the  loadflonc  doth  the  ircn  :  difptl  the 
clouds  thiit  hide  from  me  thy  love,  Or  remove  the 
fcal?s  that  hinder  mine  eyes  from  beholding  thee  :  for 
only  the  beams  that  Hream  from  thy  face,  and  the  tafte 
of  thy  falvation,  can  make  a  foul  unfeigntdiy  fay  Lordy 
new  let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace. 

Send  forth  thy  convoy  of  angtlt;  for  my  departing; 
foul,  and  let  them  biing  it  among  the  perfedl  fpirits 
of  the  juPt,  and  let  rnc  follow  my  dear  friends  that 
have  ditd  in  Chrift  before  ;  and  when  my  friends  are 
crying  over  my  grave,  let  my  fpirit  be  repofed  with 
tliee  in  reft,  and  when  my  corpfe  (hall  lie  there  rot- 
ting in  the  dark,  let  my  foul  be  in  the  inheritance  of 
the  faints  in  light.  And  O  thou  that  numberefl  thft 
hairs  of  my  head,  number  ail  the  days  that  my  body 
lies  in  the  duft  ;  thou  that  wrlteft  all  my  members  in 
thy  book,  kccrp  an  account  of  all  my  fcattf  red  bones  ; 
and  haflen,  O  my  Saviour,  the  time  of  my  return  ; 
fend  forth  thine  angels,  and  let  that  dreadful,  joyful 
trumpet  found  ;  delay  .not,  left  the  living  give  up  theif 
hopes  ;  delay  not,  left  earth  fhould  grow  like  hell, 
and  left  thy  chuich  by  divifions  be  crumbled  to  du^  ; 
delay  not,  left  thine  enemies  get  advant-age  of  ihy 
fiock,  and  k-ft  pride  and  hypocnfy,  ar.d  ieni'u?llty, 
2.nd  unbelief,  fhould  prevail  agair.ft  rhy  little  rem- 
nant, and  fliarG  among  them  thy  wholt  inheritaiice, 
and  when  thou  comeft  thou  find  net  faith  en  the-  earth  ; 
delay  not,  left  the  grave  fticuld  boaft  of  victory,  and 
refufe  to  deliver  up  thy  due.  Ohaft-n  that  great  re- 
furreclion  day  !  when  thy  C(  mn;and  fliall  go  forthj 
K  k  2 


390  The  Sainta^  Everiasting  Rest. 

and  none  fhall  difobey  ;  when  the  fea  and  earth  lliall 
yicM  up  their  hoOagcs,  and  all  that  llcep  in  the  grave 
fliall  awake,  and  the  dead  in  Ch.rift  fliall  firlt  ariie  ; 
when  the  fcL-d  that  thou  lowedlt  corrupcible,  ftiall 
come  forth  incorruptible  ;  and  graves  that  received 
butrottennefs,  and  retained  but  dt.ft,  fhall  return  thee 
glorious  ftars  and  funs  :  therefore  dare  ]  lay  down  my 
carcafe  in  the  dufl:,  entrulbng  it,  not  to  a  grave,  but 
to  thee,  and  therefore  my  flclh  fiiall  reft  in  hope,  till 
thou  raife  it  to  the  ererlading  reih  Return,  O  Lord, 
how  long  I  O  let  thy  kingdom  come  1  thy  defolate 
bride  faith  aonie  ;  for  thy  Spirit  within  her  faith  come^ 
who  teacheth  her  tlnis  to  pray  with  groanings  which 
cannot  be  exprelTed  :  the  whole  creation  faith  come, 
•waiting  to  be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corrup- 
tion into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  fons  of  God  : 
thyfelf  hatli  faid.  Surely^  I  come,  amen,  evc?i  so  comcy 
Lord  Jesus, 


THE  CONCLUSION. 

THUS,  reader,  I  have  gi.ven  thee  my  bed  advice 
for  the  attaining  and  niiiintaining  an  heavenly 
convcrfatlon.  The  njanner  is  in)pcrftc"l,  and  too 
iTiuch  my  own  ;  but  for  the  main  n^attcr,  I  received 
it  from  God.  From  him  i  deliver  it  thee,  and  hjs 
chav'-e  I  lay  upon  thee,  that  thou  entertain  and  prac- 
tiie  it.  If  thon  tar, ft  not  do  it  fully,  do  it  as  thou 
canft  ;  only  be  fure  thou  do  it  fcriouily  and  frequent- 
ly. If  thcu  wilt  believe  a  man  that  hath  made  feme 
fmall  trial  of  it,  thou  fiialt  find  it  ^vill  make  thee 
another  man,  and  elevate  thy  foul,  and  clear  thy  un- 
d-rftauding,  and  leave  a  pleafant  favour  upon  thy 
heart  ;  fo  that  thy  own  experience  will  n:;ake  thee 
feonfefs,  that  one  houi-  ihus  fi^nt  will  more  effectually 


The  Saints''  Everlasting  Rent.  391 

revive  thee  tlian  many  In  bare  extfrnnl  duties  ;  and 
a  day  in  thci'e  conteiriplations  will  afF:*rd  thee  truer 
content,  than  all  the  glory  and.  riches  of  the  earth. 
Be  acquainted  with  this  work,  and  thou  \7ilt  be  ac- 
c|uainted  with  God  :  thy  joys  will  be  fpirituil  and 
lafVmg  ;  thou  wilt  have  conitort  in  life,  and  comfort 
in  death  ;  when  then  haft  neither  wealth  nor  health, 
nor  the  pleafures  of  this  world,  yet  wilt  thou  have 
coinfort  :  comfort  without  the  preience  or  help  of 
any  friend,  without  a  minifter,  without  a  book,  v/hen 
all  means  are  denied  thee,  or  taken  from  thee,  yet 
mayft  thou  have  vigorous,  reul  comfort.  Thy  gra- 
ces will  be  aiSlive  and  vid\orious  ;  and  the  daily  joy 
•which  is  thus  fetched  from  heaven,  will  be  thy 
ftrength  :  thou  wilt  be  as  one  that  llandeth  on  the 
top  of  an  exceeding  high  mountain  ;  he  looks  down 
on  the  world  as  if  it  were  quite  below  him  ;  how 
fmall  do  the  fields,  and  woods,  and  countries  ft-em 
to  him  ?  cities  and  towns  feem  but  little  ip'^ts.  Thus 
defpicably  wilt  thou  look  on  all  things  here  below  : 
the  grtatefi:  princes  will  feem  but  as  grafiioppers,  and 
the  bufy,  contentious,  covetous  world,  but  as  lieaps 
of  ants.  Men's  threatenings  will  be  no  terror  to  thee  : 
nor  the  honors  of  this  world  any  ftrong  enticement ; 
temptations  will  be  harmlefs,  as  having  loH  thtir 
llrength  ;  and  afHiftions  lefs  grievous,  as  havmg  loft 
their  fling  ;  and  every  mercy  will  be  better  kno^vn 
and  reliihed. 

Reader,  it  is  (under  Gcd>  in  thy  own  choice  nov/, 
whether  thou  "vn  ilt  live  iliis  blelTed  life  or  not  ;  and 
whether  all  the  pains  which  I  have  taken  for  thee, 
fhall  profper  or  be  loll.  If  it  be  lofl  through  thy  la 
zinefi;,  (^which  God  forbid)  thou  wilt  prove  the  great- 
ell  loofer  thyfcif. 

O    man,    what    haft  thou  t^v  mind,  but   God    and 
heaven  ?  art  thcu  nov  ahnoft  out  of  tlijs  woild  alrea- 


592  The  Saints^  Evc-r lusting  Rest* 

dy  ?  d:)!l  thon  not  look  every  d  ly,  when  one  difcafe 
or  other  will  let  out  thy  ibul  ?  doth  not  the  bier  ftand 
read)"^  to  carry  thee  to  the  grave  ?  and  the  worms  wait 
t )  I'ecd  upon  thy  face  and  heart  ?  what  if  thy  puUe 
njufi  beat  a  few  ftrokes  more  ?  and  what  if  thou  haft  a 
few  m<^y'  breaths  to  fetch,  before  thou  breathe  thy 
laft  ?  and  what  if  thou  haft  a  few  more  nights  to  ik-cp, 
before  tliou  fteep  in  theduft?  Alas,  wh:.t  will  this 
be>  when  it  is  geme  ?  and  is  it  not  almolt  gone  alrea- 
dy ?  Shortly  thou  wilt  fee  thy  glafs  run  out,  and  fay 
thyfelf,  my  life  is  done  1  my  time  is  gone  I  there  is 
nothing  now  but  heaven  or  hell  :  where  then  lliould 
thy  heart  be  now,  but  in  heaven  ?  Didft  thon  but 
know  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  is  to  have  a  doubt 
of  heaven  when  a  man  lies  dynig,  it  would  roufe  thee 
up. 

O  what  a  life  might  men  live,  if  they  were  but 
willing  and  diligent  I  God  would  have  our  joys  to  be 
far  more  thnn  our  forrows  ;  yea,  he  wonkl  have  us  to 
hav'e  no  forrow,  but  what  tendeth  to  joy  :  and  not 
more  than  our  fins  Jiavc  made  neceffary  for  our  good. 
How  much  do  thofe  chriftians  wrong  God  and  them- 
fclves,  that  either  make  their  thoughts  of  God  the 
inlet  of  their  forrows,  or  let  thefe  offered  joys  lie  by, 
as  neglecled  or  forgotten  1  Some  there  be  that  fay,  it 
ia  not  worth  fo  much  time  and  trouble,  to  think  of  the 
greatnefs  of  tlie  joys  above.  But  as  thefe  men  obey 
not  the  command  of  God,  which  requireth  them  to 
have  their  affections  on  things  above  ;  fo  do  they  wil- 
fully  make  their  own  lives  miferable,  by  refufi ng  the 
delights  that  God  hath  fct  before  them.  And  yet  if 
this  were  ail,  it  were  a  fmaller  matter  ;  if  it  were  but 
lofs  of  their  comforts,  I  would  not  fay  n'.uch  :  but  fee 
what  abundance  of  other  mifchiefs  follow  the  abfence 
cf  thefe  iicaverJy  delights. 


The  Saints''  Everlastln z  Rest,  393 


Firsts  It  will  damp,  if  notdcflroy,  our  very  love 
to  God  :  fo  deeply  as  we  apprehend  his  exceeding' 
love  to  us,  and  his  purpofe  to  make  us  ctei  rally  hap- 
py, fo  much  will  it  raife  our  love  :  love  to  God  and 
delight  in  him,  are  ftill  conjunfV.  They  that  conceive 
of  God  as  one  that  defireth  their  blood  and  d^amna; 
tion,  cannot  heartily  love  him. 

Secondly,  It  will  make  us  have  rare  and  unpleafing- 
thoughts  of  God  ;  for  our  tlioughts  will  follow  our 
love  and  delight..  Did  w«  more  delight  in  God  than 
in  any  thing  below,  our  thoughts  would  as  freciy 
run  after  him,  as  they  now  run  from  him. 

Thirdly^  And  it  will  make  man  have  as  rare  and 
unpleafing  fpeech  of  God  ;  for  who  will  care  for 
talking  of  that  which  he  hath  no  delight  in?  What 
makes  men  {\ill  talking  of  worldlinels  or  wickednefs, 
but  that  thefe  are  more  pleafan'c  to  them  than  Gcd  ? 

Feurlhly^  Men  will  have  no  deliglit  in  the  fcrvice 
ef  God,  when  they  have  no  delight  in  Gcd,  nor 
any  fweet  thoughts  pf  heaven,  which  is  tke  end^  of 
th.eir  ferviccs.  No  w^onder  if  fuc:h  chriftians  cor^i- 
plain,  that  they  are  frill  backward  to  duty  ;  that  they 
have  no  delight  in  prayer,  in  faci-aments,  or  in  icrip- 
ture  itfelf ;  if  thou  coutdft  once  delight  in  God,  thou 
would  ft  eafily  delight  in  duty  ;  efpeclally  that  which 
bringeth  thee  into  the  nearclt  convcrfe  with  him  j 
but  till  then,  no  v/onder  if  thou  be  weary  of  ail. 

Fifihly,  This  want  of  heavenly  delight  will  leave 
men  under  tiie  power  of  every  affliction  ;  they  will 
have  nothing  to  comfort  tlieui,  and  eafc  them  iii  their 
fufi'crings,  but  the  empty,  inefFcftual  pleauires  of  the 
tlcfh  ;  and  when  tliat  is  gone,  where  ihen  is  tiicii  de» 
light  ? 


M. 


39  if  The  Saints'*  Everlasting  Rest. 

Sixthly^  It  will  make  them  fearful  and  unwilling 
to  die  :  for  who  wuuld  ^;o  to  a  God,  or  a  place  that 
he  hath  no  delight  in  ?  Or  who  would  leave  his  pica- 
fare  here,  except  it  were  to  g^o  to  better  ?  But  if  men 
t;;ke  delight  in  God  whilft  they  live,  they  will  not 
tremble  at  the  tidings  of  death. 

If  God  would  perfuade  you  now  to  make  con- 
fcience  of  this  duty,  and  help  you  in  it  by  the  blef- 
fcjd  influence  of  his  Spirit,  you  would  not  change 
your  lives  with  the  greateft  prince  on  earth.  But  I 
am  afraid,  if  I  may  judge  of  your  hearts  by  the  back- 
wardnefs  of  my  own,  that  it  will  prove  a  hard  thing 
to  perfuade  you  to  the  work.  Pardon  my  jealoufy  ; 
it  is  raifcd  upon  too  many  and  fad  experiments. 
What  fay  you  ?  Do  you  refolve  on  this  heavenly 
courfe  or  no  ?  Will  you  let  go  all  your  fjnful  pleafures, 
and  daily  feck  thefe  liighcr  delights  ?  I  pray  thee, 
reader,  coiifider  of  it,  and  refolve  on  the  work  before 
thou  goefl  further.  Let  thy  family  perceive,  let  thy 
neighbours  perceive,  let  thy  confcience  perceive,  yea, 
let  God  perceive  it,  that  tiiou  art  a  man  that  haft 
thy  ccnverfation  in  heaven.  God  hath  now  offered 
to  be  tliy  daily  delight  ;  thy  r/egle<ft  is  thy  refufal. 
I'ake  heed  what  thou  dcfl  :  refule  this,  and  refufe 
all  :  thou  mufl  have  heavenly  delights,  or  none  that 
are  lafring.  God  is  willing  ihcu  rm^ulcR  daily  walk 
with  him,  and  fetch  in  ccnfolation  from  the  everlaft- 
ing  fountain  :  if  thou  be  unwilling,  bear  the  lois  ; 
and  when  thou  lieft  dying,  then  feek  for  comfort 
where  thou  canft.  O  how  is  the  unfeen  GoJ  negledl- 
ed,  and  the  unfeen  glory  forgotten  1  And  all  for  want 
of  that  faith  ivhich  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped 
for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  tJuit  are  not  seen, 

vBut  for  you  whofe  hearts  God  hath  weanfed  from  all 
diiygs  l-.ere  below,  I  hope  you  will  fetch  one  walk 
dailv  in  ihc  new  Terufalcm  !   God    ls  vour  ^cve,   and 


The  Saints^  Everlast'mg  Rest»  395 

your  defire  ;  and  I  know  you  >vouH  fain  b^  irore  ac- 
quainted with  your  SHViour,  and  I  know  it  is  your 
grief  that  your  hearts  aic  not  more  'i;t?.r  him  ;  and 
that  they  do  no  more  paffionattly  love  and  ddiglit  in 
him.  As  ever  you  would  enjoy  your  deuresj  try  this 
life  of  meditation  on  your  everladin^^  reil. 

O  thou  the  merciful  Father  of  Spirits,  the  attractive 
of  love,  and  ocean  of  delights,  draw  up  theic  dioffy 
hearts  unto  thyfelf,  and  keep  them  there  till  tliey  are 
fpiritualizcd  and  refined,  and  fecond  thtfe  thy  fervant's 
■weak  endeavours,  and  perfur.de  thofe  that  read  thffe 
lines,  to  the  praftice  of  this  delightful,  heavenly  work. 
O  fufFcr  not  the  foul  of  thy  mod  unworthy  fcrvant  to 
be  a  Hranger  to  thofe  joys  which  lis  unfoldeth  to  thy 
people,  or  to  be  feldom  in  thatway  whiciihehath  mark- 
ed out  to  others  ;  but  O  keep  me  while  I  tarry  on  this 
earth,  in  daily,  ferious  breathings  alter  thee,  and  in 
a  believing,  affe<n:ionate  walking  with  thee  ;  and  when 
thou  comefl,  O  let  m.e  be  found  fo  dom^,  not  hiding 
my  taleat,  nor  fervmg  my  fielli,  nor  yet  afleep  Avitli 
ray  lamp  unfurnilhed,  buc  waiting  and  longing  for  my 
Lord's  return  ;  that  thofe  who  (liall  read  thtfe  direc- 
tions, may  not  reap  only  the  fruit  of  my  (ludi'es,  but 
the  breathings  of  my  adlive  hope  and  loye  :  that  if 
my  heart  were  open  to  their  view',  they  might  there 
read  ih.*  fame  moi>  deeply  cngiaven  with  a  bcini  from 
the  face  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  not  find  vanity  or 
luft,  or  pride  withi;^,  where  the  v.'ords  of  life  appear 
without  ;  that  fo  theie  lines  may  not  witnrfs  againft 
me  ;  but  proceeding-  from  the  heart  of  the  writer, 
nay  be  effectual  through  thy  grace  upon  the  heart  of 
the  leader,  and  fo  be  the  favour  of  life  to  both. 

Glory  be  to  God  in   the  highest  :     on  earth  peace  r^ 
good-tvill  toivards  men. 


FhVIS, 


CONTENTS. 

THE  SAINTS'  EVIilRLASTING  REST. 

Heb.   iv.  9.    There  rematneth    therefore   a  Rest    t9 
the  People  of  God, 

Chap.  PART     I.  Tage. 

I-  I^HIS  Reft  defined  7 

li.       What  this  Rcf>  pre-fnpporcth  13 

III.  Wh-i  this  Reft  contaiiieth  i^ 

!V.    li^c  four  great  Prcparitives  to  our  Refl'  31 

V.  1  he  F>.celiencies  of  our  Refl-  43 

VI.  The  Pco-jle  of  God  deK;nbed  70 
The  concJufion                                                                                         83 

PART     II. 

I.  The  inconceivable  Mifery  of  the  Ungodly  in  the  Lofs  of  this  Rc/l  84 

II.  Tiie  Aggravation  of  ilie  Lofs  of  Heaven  to  the  Ungodly  90 

III.  They  fha'.l  lofe  ali  Things  comfortable  as  well  as  Heaven  J04 

IV.  The  Geeatnefs  of  the  Tormciits  of  the  Dan-i.ed  difcovered         iix 

V.  The  let  ond  U/e.  Reprchend'tig  i1  c  genarc'  Ncgleft  of  this  Rcfl-, 

and  exciting  to  Diligence  ■    .eek  n^  it  124 

VI.  An  exhortation  to  Scric.       Ts  in  leekinp '^^  136 

VII.  The  third  Ufc.  Perfuadir,- ;i'1  men    .  ...  tlic  .  Tiiles  to  this 
RePt ;  and  direfting  the  n  howio  t- y,il.   :  they  may  know        159 

VIII.  P'urther  Caufcs  of  Doubling  «moi3g  Chriftir-as  172 
IX  Containing  Direftions  to  Exair ination,  antf  fome  Marks  ofTrial  177 
'^.  The  Rea;on  of  th«  Saints  Affticliions  here  182 

XI.  An  Extort  atien  to  tbo'e  that  have  got  Aflurance  ofthisRe/^. 
that  they  wonld  do  all   they  poffibly  can  to  help  others  to  it  192 

XII.  An  Advice  to  :on7c  morepanicularly  t )  help  cthersto  this  Reft  227 

PART     III 

l"  ReproviDK  our  Expeftations  of  Reft  on  Earth  25^ 

!I.  Motiveito  He.ivenl)-mindednefs  271 

HI,  Contain mg  (ome  Kioderances  of  Heavenly  mindedncfs  293 

IV.  Some  general  Helps  to  Heavcnly-mindednefs  305 

V.  A  Dcfcripfion  of  heavenly  Contemplation  3'5 

VI.  The  fittrft  Time  and  Place  for  this  Contemplation,  and  the 
Preparation  of  the  Heait  unto  it  324 

VII.  Vv'bat  Affcftions  muft  be  acled,  and  by  what  Confidcrations, 
and  Objefts,  and  in  what  Order  335 

VIII.  Some  Advantages  an  d  Helps  for  raifing  the  Soul  by  Meditation350 
IX   How  to  manage  and  watch  over  the  Heart  through  the  whole 

Work  3^5 

X.  An  Example  of  thi«  heavenly  Contemplation,  for  the  Help  of  the 

Unlkilful  371 

The  Conclufion  39* 


,t^Mfi^., 


